Granite Bay Gazette

Upperclassmen regrets Seniors reflect on their experiences

Earth Day

4x400 relay

B1

Relay team has high aspirations for state

C1

G10-11

A day to give back to Mother Nature

The Granite Bay Gazette GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 21 w ISSUE 7 w FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018

COMMENTARY

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES

katie cologna kcologna.gazette@gmail.com

From strangers, to smiles, to friends

“T

he shortest distance between two people is a smile.”

My mom always said this to me when I was growing up, and she made it her mission to teach my sisters and me that none of us know how a stranger’s day is going, so when you have a chance to engage in the simple act of smiling – take it.

Recently I traveled to New York City. The city I will be moving to. The city where everyone is supposedly angry and alone.

So upon arriving, I made it my personal mission to try changing a few people’s days with the simple act of a smile.

I quickly found that the nasty stereotype that all New Yorkers don’t have the time of day for anyone else is – in fact – false.

Were there a few people that couldn’t be bothered? Yes, much like every other major city in America. But what I discovered, or rather validated from my mom’s lessons, is that people will genuinely smile back if you give them the opportunity. They might not be the first to smile, but they sure will reciprocate.

Tens of people a day smiled back at me, but all of those smiles were from random faces that I would likely never see again. Yet, there was one smile from a man (we’ll call him the “coffee man”) that made biggest impact on my life through the smallest actions.

What started as me grabbing a coffee before a lecture at the journalism convention I was attending The shortest turned distance into a twice day between two routine people is a for three smile. days where I developed a friendship with the “coffee man.”

I would begin my day by stopping at the coffee man’s Halal food truck to grab a small iced coffee with milk and sugar. My first time there, I smiled and made light conversation. The second time I went, the coffee man had a smile saying the sentence “iced coffee, milk and sugar?” Music to my ears. If you know me you know little things (like someone remembering my order) excite me. This was one of them.

One day in and I had proved the stereotype wrong. I had found a stranger. One who was appreciative of my smile and my desire to make his day. One who reciprocated the acts of kindness.

My last day of the convention was when I realized the impact the coffee man had made on my life. I went for my final coffee of the trip and told the coffee man that I would soon be heading back to California.

This was the turning point. In the last five minutes of speaking with my new-found friend, we discussed my plans for college, moving to New York, his travels back to his homeland and the promise to visit him at his little Halal food truck when we are both back in the city.

To most people, I probably didn’t gain anything significant, but in my eyes I learned plenty. I learned that if you give people the opportunity to share their happiness, they will.

And all that can be done … with guess what? A smile. *** Katie Cologna, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief.

Gazette photos /KATIE COLOGNA

Thousands march to the State Capital in Sacramento Ca, in the March for our Lives on March 24.

At the march, Sacramento’s mayor Darrell Steinberg, along with many others, spoke on the purpose of the march and its effects on the community This march was shortly after the national walk-out that occurred on March 14 to represent the lost lives from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Millions across the country unite for walk-outs and marches

BY SIDNEY ZABELL

M

szabell.gazette@gmail.com

arch. 24, 2018 marked a unique day in U.S. history – millions of youth gathered across the country in what some believe to be the largest single-day protest ever, with an estimated 800,000 in attendance in Washington, D.C. Thousands rallied together Sacramento, CA in hopes to encourage gun reform and safety after a deadly school shooting in Parkland, FL on Feb. 14, which killed 17 students at Marjory Stoneman

Douglas High School. Schools across the U.S. have been on heightened concern as school shootings are becoming a norm.

Granite Bay High School organized a group of roughly 40 students, teachers and

Superintendent retiring skang.gazette@gmail.com

After 40 years in education and more than 30 years in the Roseville Joint Union High School District, superintendent Ron Severson is retiring at the end of the school year.

Why?

“I’m just … old!” Severson said, bursting out into good-natured laughter.

The hard work of leading the district has taken its toll on Severson.

“It’s a 50- to 60-hour job and I’ve been doing that kind of work See RETIRES, page A6

inside This Section news

See MARCH, page A7

The CDE only allows for gifts up to $100 Ron Severson Superintendent and founder of Granite Bay High School to retire at the end of June.

BY SABINA MAHAVNI

smahavni.gazette@gmail.com

A teacher walks into a classroom and sees an envelope on the desk. The first thing the teacher might expect is a kind note from a student.

The last thing? A check for $1,000.

The Harvest Bible Chapel is a local

Rapid change in college admissions

GBHS teacher gets an opportunity

Students face an unexpected wave of waitlists and rejections from California schools.

Drama teacher Kyle Holmes chosen for board to revise VAPA state standards.

A2

teaching at another school, I was faced with an armed man on our campus who had just committed an armed robbery. He was using the school as a hiding place and we were put into lockdown,” McKinney said. “I was eight-and-a-half months pregnant and found myself locked in a common planning center bathroom scared to death.

I felt completely helpless and unprepared.

I have never been the same since that moment.”

Since this event, McKinney has ensured her students are aware of what to do in an emergency early in the year.

Harvest Bible Chapel gives $1,000 to select teachers

Founder of GBHS to leave education after nearly 30 years at RJUHSD

BY STEPH KANG

graduates to march for gun reform.

“I think the cause is extremely important because gun violence affects so many families,” social science teacher and march attendee Jillyan McKinney said. “Everyone should feel safe in schools and everywhere else they go. This isn’t a partisan issue, this is an everyone issue.”

McKinney was a senior in high school at the time of the Columbine shooting, and says this changed her perspective on gun violence forever. McKinney knew she wanted to go into education at this time and Columbine, and events since, have shaped her views on school safety.

“At the beginning of my career while

church group that frequently rents out about eight classrooms on the Granite Bay High campus for various service and childcare needs on Sundays.

English teacher Adam McLearan is among the group of teachers whose classrooms are used by the church, and he has received multiple gifts of gratitude from See CHAPEL, page A6

voices Anxiety is more serious than people think

A5

A look into the depths of the dilemma and the impact it has on many teens and young adults.

A8

News

A2

Friday

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Granite Bay Gazette

w April 13, 2018

will anderson wanderson.gazette@gmail.com

GBHS teacher uses campus flood as time for some fishing

W

hen the quad on campus floods from some much needed torrential downpours, what better way to have fun than huck a reel out into the shakey waters and test your luck as a fisherman. Well, Bill Patterson did just so early one overcast Thursday morning, unfortunately nothing came back on the other end of his line.

*** Seniors Blake D’Souza, Joey MacLeane and Nathan Lee all signed their National Letters of Intent on April 11th. Congratulations Joey and Nathan, both increible gentlemen and athletes! And Blake, you’ve come a long way since we played on the D1 Sports Academy team together, bravo to you my friend!

*** Kyle Holmes and his incredible group of theatre students have put together a production of Jesus Christ Superstar for this years spring play. Come out to see the show April 19-21 and 26-28 – just don’t break a leg on the way there. *** To no one’s surprise, the seniors won powderpuff this year. This marks a repeat for the ladies in the class of 2018 after winning last year’s contest. Shouts out to Makena Blackburn, Sydney Oliver, Megan Nimtz and Emily Talmi for their notable contributions – all of you are faster and more athletic than most of the guys who put pads on on Friday nights.

*** Seniors here is a friendly reminder. As graduation approaches make sure you are cleared of any issues that may put you on senior conduct so that you can walk come graduation day and enjoy festivities such as Senior Ball on May 5th.

Abnormal college admittances surprise the class of 2018

Gazette photo illustration /WILL ANDERSON

Students who were in the 2018 graduating class, who were often highly qualified or over qualified were denied from many of the University of California and California State Universities despite being residents of the state, having multiple extracurriculars and having exceptional test scores and GPA’s.

UC and CSU system denys more California students than usual

*** David Tastor wants you in his International Baccalaureate World Religion class next year.

*** Deserie Milburn wants you to try out for her Dance classes. Get ready to get groovy on April 18th at three right after school if you are auditioning for either Dance 2 or Dance 3.

*** Will Anderson, a senior, is a news editor.

CORRECTIONS Accuracy is perhaps the most important fundamental of good journalism. It's the policy of the Gazette to correct all factual errors that are brought to our attention. Email us at: staff.granitebaytoday@gmail. com Identification Statement GRANITE BAY GAZETTE PUBLISHED EIGHT TIMES PER ACADEMIC YEAR c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

BY MCKENNA ARAM

F

maram.gazette@gmail.com

or the high school graduates of 2018 planning to attend college, the admissions process this year was more competitive than ever – and unkind to many.

The cherished University of California system was denounced by many students for denying a substantial number of in-state applicants who were more than qualified – and who the system is supposed to favor.

Granite Bay High senior David Song, who was accepted to Stanford University in December, was rejected by UCLA and waitlisted at UC Berkeley and UC San Diego. “(The) UC craziness kinda sucks this year. … I am curious to see what truly happened,” Song said.

A multitude of seniors at GBHS who had nearly perfect SAT or ACT

scores and GPAs above 4.0 were – against all odds – denied by various UC schools.

“I know several qualified people who were rejected or waitlisted (from the UC schools) and in some cases people who were much less qualified managed to secure spots,” senior Raymond Forbes said. “It’s upsetting to see many of my friends be denied or waitlisted when they worked so hard in high school and deserve admittance.”

Every UC campus received a record number of applications this year, which some people speculate to be part of the problem with the large number of rejections this year.

“I was both disappointed and surprised that I didn’t get (into any UCs),” senior Adam Fong said.

“With my test scores and GPA, I assumed I’d land at least one, but I got waitlisted at UC Irvine, UC Davis and UC San Diego, and denied at UCLA and UC (Santa Barbara).”

Five out of the nine UC campuses received more than 100,000 applications – an average of a six percent increase in applications over last year.

According to a UCLA undergraduate admissions officer who requested to remain anonymous because of citing unofficial statistics, only 200 students out of 120,000 were waitlisted for the Class of 2022 at UCLA. Normally, UCLA waitlists thousands of students every year.

“Politics, money, bias – whatever it might’ve been – I can’t do anything to change the decisions,” Fong said. “It’s also humbling knowing that there was more work to be done, given I didn’t qualify with my current status.”

But it wasn’t just the UC system that baffled many – there were surprises from state schools all the way to the Ivy League.

“I was very surprised when I got waitlisted at (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) and UCSD,” Forbes said.

“I thought that I could at least get into those schools (as) I kind of considered them as safety schools.”

Although Forbes was waitlisted at Cal Poly and UCSD, he was accepted to both UCLA and UC Berkeley – which are both higherranked schools compared to Cal Poly and UCSD. Senior Victoria Ahmad, who has a 4.3 GPA and a 1,480 SAT score – which is in the 98th percentile of all national test takers – was surprised to be rejected by Cal Poly as she considered it one of her backup schools.

“I was pretty shocked because my stats were a lot higher than (Cal Poly’s) averages for my major, and it made me scared for the results of other schools,” Ahmad said. “I still don’t understand (what happened with the admissions decisions), because most schools usually admit the most qualified applicants, not the applicants they think are most likely to attend.”

Even schools that students would typically expect to get into were baffled by their rejections.

University of Southern California normally retains around a 17 percent acceptance rate, but this year, that rate plummeted to nearly 12

percent, rejecting tens of thousands of qualified students.

Many GBHS students who had test scores and GPAs well above USC’s listed averages were rejected.

“It sucked watching my friends be confused by why one person was getting in over the other when they had almost identical stats and extracurriculars,” senior Katie Harmeier said.

Less surprising – but still astonishing – Harvard University, considered by many to be the best university in America, dropped its regular decision acceptance rate to just under three percent, among the lowest acceptance rates of schools in the nation.

A majority of the other Ivy League schools also lowered their acceptance rates for this year.

Overall, this application year seemed to be extremely competitive and confusing for prospective college students.

“It was weird watching people who got into Ivy League (schools) but got waitlisted at UC Davis try to make sense of it all,” Hartmeier said.

Are drug searches on campus really effective?

Students share incidents of being searched on campus by administrative members

BY KEYURI PILLAY

D

kpillay.gazette@gmail.com

rug searches among students at Granite Bay High have been on the rise and have sparked a backlash from students who have been searched multiple times throughout the year without authorities finding anything.

Students who are called up to the front office multiple times have concerns over why they have been called up, and they feel cornered at times.

Mauricio Acevedo-Ayala, a junior, has been called up and searched multiple times this year.

“I did not know that I was being pulled out of class, they sent (campus monitor) Jason (Ott) to pull me out,” Acevedo-Ayala said. “He takes my backpack and walks me down to the office. They stand behind you the whole time to make sure you don’t do anything.”

“We get into the office and I have to give my phone to them while they basically searched my backpack. They look for anything, they search all pockets. They search

up into the office to be searched, nor are they targeted by administration.

“At any time the administration has a reasonable suspicion that a student may be in possession of prohibited items, we are you, they pat you down and tell you to flip charged with securing those items,” McGregor said. “Most often, we receive reports out your pocket, take off from students and teachyour shoes or show your ers that they saw items socks. They check your or heard individuals dispupils or make you take cussing the use, sale or tests.”

If a student may possession of items. This Jacob Valadez, also a be in possesion of can be in the form of injunior, has been searched person, written reports, or twice this year. prohibited items, via our online “report bul“They took my backwe are charged lying anonymously” link pack and phone,” Valfrom the school website.” with securing dez said. “When I got to A junior girl who asked the office they explained those items. to remain anonymous why you’re here and ask has had multiple interacif you have anything on tions with GBHS admin– Jessup McGregor, you and when you say istrators involving drug you don’t they proceed to assistant principal searches. search your bag and ask “When I have gone up you what things are. They to the office, Jason [came] have called in a couple to pick me up,” she said. of times but they haven’t “The last time I got searched, someone found anything.”

Administrators at GBHS have their own else took me up to the office and she took rules and guidelines regarding any student my phone. I checked in and there usually is being called up based upon a reasonable a school assistant principal who calls (me) suspicion of illegal or inappropriate activity. in. They’re usually really skeptical and treat According to assistant principal Jessup (me) with less respect.”

McGregor, students are not routinely called Some students feel uncomfortable when

Read the Gazette

Mauricio Acevedo-Ayala Junior pulled from class on multiple occasions for drug searches by the GBHS resource officer.

administration don’t talk to them in a respectful manner.

“After they bring you into the office they make you take your shoes off and your socks,” she said.

School administration called the girl to the office because they said they had a video of her engaging in illegal activities, but they did not disclose the video to her or her parent.

From the perspective of Debbie Nordmann, the administrative assistant for the GBHS assistant principals, students are treated with respect when they have to be searched.

“They tell people why they’re in here,” Nordmann said. “They ask to go through their belongings, and they don’t assume they’re guilty.

“We try to have them leave in a better place. If they are caught, we don’t beat anyone up emotionally for any reason.”

Friday, April 13, 2018

News A3

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Express Your Style. Personalize your dream ring.

Exclusively At

www.sharifjewelers.com

Friday, April 13, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

News

Holmes elected to help update VAPA standards Drama teacher participates in panel for improvement

A4

of California performing and visual arts curriculum

BY BRAYDEN JOHNK

F

bjohnk.gazette@gmail.com

rom his Granite Bay High classroom to the California State Capitol, one teacher at GBHS does it all.

GBHS performance arts teacher Kyle Holmes was one of four individuals chosen – out of more than 200 applicants – to be part of a state-wide panel to review, revise and update California state standards for visual and performing arts (VAPA).

Unlike other subjects such as math, science or English, VAPA had no set state standards until 2000.

However, they have not been modernized since then.

“It’s been 18 years since they’ve been updated,” Holmes said. “A lot of curriculum changes in 18 years.”

The superintendent of the California Department of Education, Tom Torlakson, sent an email to all high school principals to notify their VAPA teachers of this opportunity. Holmes was quick to respond and was very interested, and he subsequently submitted an application for the position.

In early January, Holmes found out he was selected for the committee spot, along with three other teachers – one from the Bay area, one from southern California and the other from California State University East Bay. When he found out, Holmes was ecstatic.

“It’s just really, really awesome that I get to be in the room where (change) happens and get to put my 10 cents into what should be happening,” Holmes said.

“I feel very fortunate and blessed that I get to be a part of this process.”

So what exactly are some components Holmes and his team are working to revise?

“One of the things that we are focusing on as a group is making sure the language is modern,” Holmes said.

“That the language fits the world we live in – what does it mean when we refer to using technology in theater?”

The next major provision they are working toward is better and easier accessibility.

“So if you’ve never taught theater before and you’re a fifth grade teacher, you can flip to these standards and say, ‘OK, I can do this,’” Holmes said.

To carry out these changes, the panel meets two days a month, starting in February and ending in May, at the California Department of Education in Sacramento – giving them eight days total to rewrite the VAPA state standards. After the panel’s work is complete, the curriculum goes to professional writers, then to another committee, and finally becomes open to public opinion and feedback. After all of that, the curriculum becomes part of California educational law.

Holmes’ current interest and vision for the future played a huge role in his selection.

He teaches a wide array of theater and performing arts classes at GBHS including beginning drama, intermediate theater, professional drama, music theater and advanced drama.

He also works with the curriculum development team at the district level and helps run and develop curriculum at a summer theater camp program in El Dorado County.

Aside from his curricular and extracurricular activities, Holmes has a passion for course studies.

“I think that I have made a very conscious effort to be very involved in conversations about curriculum and processes about curriculum,” Holmes said.

All of this made Holmes a perfect candidate for the position. Seniors Mehdi Hajar and Georgia Seagraves, who have both been involved with Holmes’ theater program since their freshman year, agree.

“I think he is very progressive in his thinking and is very open to new ideas, to other people’s ideas, and has a lot of very strong opinions of his own,” Hajar said. “I think this is a good mixture of talents to have, especially when dealing with such a broad subject.”

Seagraves agreed.

“He does a really good job of running this drama program,” Seagraves said. “I think that’s because he focuses on what art can do for the world and not just the amount of ticket sales that he gets per season.”

Seagraves not only believes Holmes deserves this position, but she also believes the arts in general need

Gazette illustration/ SABINA MAHAVNI

Holmes was selected to sit on the panel for revising VAPA state standards, focusing on ensuring the language is modern and understandable as well as easily accessible. more appreciation.

“It’s great representation for our school, too, because “Right now, each student receives about two minutes just being able to say, ‘Hey, Granite Bay has a teacher of art a day in all public schools, which is not enough who is helping to be a part of this process,’ is amazto develop society,” Seagraves said. “Society includes ing,” Holmes said. academics as well as art, and right now there’s a really Being named to this panel is a significant accomunequal ratio between those two.” plishment in Holmes’ career, and he hopes to take adHolmes said he hopes to take his vision of theater arts to the curriculum panel and ultimately to all Cal- vantage of this opportunity for the greater good of all students. ifornia students.

“It’s a huge step for me professionally and personal“Obviously theater education, performing arts and ly,” Holmes said. “I feel like I’m really able to fulfill visual arts (are) very important to me,” Holmes said.

This opportunity for Holmes also benefits GBHS. a desire to have a larger influence on our education.”

GBHS graduate arrested for gun possession incident

Graduate Trevor Marshall was taken into custody last month at a local Chipotle

BY SAMREEN SIDDIQUI ssiddiqui.gazette@gmail.com

Little did Trevor Marshall’s friends and family know that Marshall, a Granite Bay High graduate, would be arrested for possession of an assault weapon.

On March 5, Marshall threatened a high school student and eventually was arrested at the Chipotle restaurant on Sierra College Blvd. and Douglas Blvd. for possessing a loaded assault weapon.

“I was seriously so shocked when I found out it was him,” senior David Goni said. “I found out when I was getting carts at work (at Raley’s). My sister texted me saying … that a guy named Trevor Marshall was on the news and got arrested at the Douglas Chipotle.”

Goni knew Marshall from the yearbook class at GBHS. Marshall was on the yearbook staff his senior year.

“And after I read that text, I literally didn’t reply back to her,” Goni said. “I immediately … searched his name and … I saw his mugshot there. I was seriously so speechless and shocked at that time. And I was at work so I couldn’t look into the situation.

So I had to keep working and doing my job, smiling at customers and bagging their groceries, but on the inside I wasn’t feeling like that. I was seriously so confused about everything, because I was talking to him weeks before and he gave me such good advice about what I should do in my life.”

Pavlina Clem, a GBHS senior, was also close with Marshall, as they worked together on the yearbook staff and have kept in touch since he graduated.

“I was driving home from a baseball game after shooting (photographs) and David Goni called me and told me that (the person arrested) was Trevor,” Clem said.

“And honestly I just kept telling him to shut up and … how Trevor would never do anything like that because he is one of the most kind-hearted people I know and he would do anything for the people he loves.”

English teacher and yearbook adviser Bernadette Cranmer was also shocked to hear about the news. Marshall was one of her English students as well as being on the yearbook staff Cranmer advises.

“He was in my sophomore English class,

and he was great,” Cranmer said. “He was a really good student, he was fun to be (around), he was conscientious about his work, he was nice to other people (and) he was helpful. From there he signed up for yearbook and … everybody loved him.”

According to Goni, Clem and Cranmer, Marshall was a kind person who didn’t seem violent – so why did this incident happen?

Ron Honberg, senior policy advisor for the National Alliance for Mental Illness, said people can be overcome by their anger.

“I think sometimes people get desperate (and) angry, (and) they let it simmer inside them,” Honberg said. “They don’t deal with (their anger) and it becomes a pressure cooker.”

Clem spoke with Marshall days before the situation, and she was surprised his life got to that point.

“He seemed like he was super ready to get his life together because he was telling me about how he was planning on going to the Navy,” Clem said. “And he and I we’re talking a lot about how we both made mistakes in our lives … and how we can both correct ourselves … so I don’t know what happened within the span of the two days I didn’t talk to him.”

The debate about mental health being a factor that contributes to gun violence is popular, but Honberg said he questions whether there is a strong correlation between the two.

“Every time there is a mass tragedy ... there always seems to be some conclusions drawn that the person who did it has a mental illness,” Honberg said. “And I understand that, because it’s very easy and natural for people (to do that), but the fact is when NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) talks about mental illnesses, we talk about (serious) conditions that affect the brain. The studies that have been done looking at the relationships between mental illnesses and violence have concluded that the relationship is pretty small.”

Honberg also said there are other situations that can lead to violence – particularly gun violence.

“There are certain factors that have been identified as factors of increased violence (such as) past violence – a person who has

been violent in the past (has) the likelihood … to be violent in the future,” Honberg said. “Other predictors of potential violence (are) substance abuse and a past history of trauma, particularly in childhood.”

Still, there is at least some connection between mental illness and violence.

“There is some evidence that certain conditions that are… not treated may increase the risk of violence,” Honberg said. “Not significantly, but it may increase the risk.

Studies have also concluded that about four percent of all violence in America can be connected to mental illness, and when it comes to gun violence it’s even less. To some extent, the discussion of mental illness in response to these tragedies is a little bit political – it’s brought up by those who are trying to deflect the conversation away from the whole gun issue.

“The reality is that it’s probably easier in the U.S. today to get a gun than it is to get mental health care.”

Honberg said he hopes the stigma surrounding mental health won’t continue to discourage people from seeking treatment.

“We need to create an environment that encourages people to get help,” Honberg said. “Everytime we talk about mental illness and associating it with violence, we create barriers – we make it harder for people to come out and acknowledge that they are experiencing mental health symptoms and they need some help, so it’s very counterproductive.”

There is some speculation that Marshall had issues with substance abuse.

“When I saw his mugshot, I (thought) he looked terrible,” Cranmer said. “His eyes (were) bloodshot and he looked really thin, so the first thing I thought of when I saw (it) was (that) he’s probably into drugs because he doesn’t look like himself. I have talked to a couple of other people from the yearbook staff who have known him since he graduated, and they said they thought he did get involved in drugs and alcohol and that was part of why he changed.”

But Cranmer has hope for Marshall’s future.

“I would think right now that he is at the lowest point of his life – we all go through … really difficult things, and it’s what you do with it that matters,” Cranmer said.

“And if he could get the help he needs and get back in touch with who he was before, he can reach out and help other people.”

Teachers react to recent spike in health care costs

Preparing for the new price of retiremenent

BY JORDAN BLAIR

jblair.gazette@gmail.com

Teachers have been striking and speaking out against low salaries since the middle of the 20th century. As educators of the future, they are the ones with influence on the next generation.

Not only are teachers receiving a lower income throughout their careers, but financial difficulties are following them after retirement.

As healthcare costs continue to rise, so does the retiring age for teachers. Despite health care costs continuing to rise, retirement pensions are not.

Having spiked to $1,000 a month (not including out of pocket costs) as of January this year, health care expenses now cost about half of the average $2,000 retired teachers receive in pensions each month.

With more than 9,000 former teachers having to come out of retirement this year, the rate of those that left the teacher retirement system’ is six times higher than ever before.

Even teachers at Granite Bay High are suffering from the spike in health care costs, as some fear they may not be able to afford their retirement.

Music and health teacher Terry Stafford is nearing this next phase in his life as retirement comes closer by the day.

“I will probably be retiring next year,”

Stafford said in an email.

With his youngest child only leaving his health plan this year, health care was a determining factor in when he decided to retire.

“Teachers are one of the lowest paid professionals based on level of education,” Stafford said.

Teachers’ wages haven’t been rising as quickly as other occupations and have dropped 12 percent since 1983 when corrected for inflation.

Teachers also receive less pay for overtime, fewer bonuses and less paid leave.

When it comes to those with a similar level of education, teachers on average are paid 14 percent less.

“I waited for my Medicare to kick in so I could afford health care for me and my wife,” Stafford said. “I will probably be retiring next year.”

Principal Jennifer Leighton has also watched as healthcare costs continues to rise.

“I spend a lot of money each month right now,” Leighton said in an email.

Leighton does not plan on retiring soon and isn’t worried.

“I’ll have a lot of years in the district by then and should be in pretty good shape as far as salary,” Leighton said.

In order for Medicare to go into effect, teachers must wait until age 65 to retire.

See HEALTH CARE, page A7

Friday, April 13, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Lack of staff diversity is prominent on campus Students at GBHS feel more comfortable opening up to teachers of the same race about challenges

BY ASHLEY YUNG

ayung.gazette@gmail.com

The Granite Bay High teaching staff lacks ethnic diversity – only a few teachers are of a different race.

It seems odd that the GBHS staff lacks diversity even among Spanish teachers – only three of the seven Spanish teachers are Latino.

Jennifer Hill, one of the non-Latino Spanish teachers, provides her own perspective for this statistic – she said she believes that an American upbringing is an advantage for teaching Spanish.

“Like the students, I really had to struggle to learn a second language,” Hill said. “I figured out what worked for me as a non-native speaker, and now I’m able to share those tips with my students.”

Hill said she receives more negative stigma for being a white Spanish teacher than she would if she were of Mexican descent.

“I think (the other) teachers get credibility by their name or the way they look,” Hill said. “I feel like I have to prove… that I am fluent (in Spanish).”

Jada Harper, an African American sophomore at GBHS, said she believes that a lack of diversity within the GBHS teaching staff is the result of the lack of diversity in the community of Granite Bay as a whole.

“We live in a primarily white community,” Harper said. “(So) I’ve … grown up with white people my entire life.”

Harper says some teachers at GBHS aren’t familiar with other cultures and struggle to understand her.

“Some teachers … have stereotypes that they don’t even realize they have,” Harper said. “(They) teach (in) a way (that’s) just not accepting of all races.”

Although people say that “times have changed,” Harper questions whether white people would be so accepting if the roles were reversed and 50 black teachers taught at GBHS. “Would (people) really be comfortable with that?”

Harper said.

Ipsha Pandey, a sophomore at GBHS, said she does not

feel teacher diversity is necessity for improving school academics.

“We have phenomenal teachers who are incredibly passionate about their jobs,” Pandey said. “What makes a good teacher is not their race, but rather their passion for the subject (they are teaching).”

However on a non-academic note, Pandey said she feels a diverse faculty is important so students like her – Pandey is Indian – can connect with teachers of their same race.

“Having … teachers with the same ethnic background ... helped me be more open ... regarding my personal life,” Pandey said.

In addition, Pandey’s perspective on school is based heavily on her ethnicity. “(Teachers of my same race) understand the motivation that drives (me) better,” Pandey said.

Suchi Krishnaraj, an Indian teacher at GBHS, agrees that students with similar backgrounds feel comfortable sharing their challenges with her.

However, Krishnaraj does not believe a teacher has to be of a certain ethnicity to teach students how to have perspective.

“Perspectives … can come from any ... teacher with a global outlook,” Krishnaraj said.

Lisa Goldsmith said that while her ethnicity – she is Asian – does not bear any weight on her teaching style, it does affect her student interactions.

“People of Asian descent are more comfortable (when they first meet me),” Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith also said she believes minority students feel like they can reach out to an adult who understands their struggles.

“Many times, (the) minorities on campus feel underrepresented,” Goldsmith said. “I appreciate when (these minority students) reach out to me to advocate for them.”

Goldsmith welcomes the idea of a more diverse faculty.

“I believe it is important for all people to have diverse interactions,” Goldsmith said. “It is (a) level of education beyond academic content.”

News A5

Underage binge drinking remains problematic Teenage drinking

can usually begin Ingesting excessive through peer presand parties. amounts of alcohol is a sure “I didn’t even think about drinking I started going popular student pastime until to high school par-

BY DYLAN ROWE

drowe.gazette@gmail.com

In the United States, 45 percent of young adults have consumed alcohol illegally – and more than half of the time they are partaking in binge drinking.

By definition, binge drinking is when a single person drinks an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time.

Thought to be partially influenced by movies and media, underage binge drinking has become more common and can be made out to seem as if it’s a part of growing up.

“Nowadays drinking has become a common thing that everyone just does,” senior TJ Patterson said.

The problem not only lies within drinking itself, but what the excessive drinking can cause – there are negative outcomes to every depressant.

“The last time I was (at a) party I drank because I needed to get away from my problems,” an anonymous sophomore girl said. “I ended up worse off than I was before.”

Ingesting large amounts of alcohol can have a variety of negative effects – and the more a person drinks, the worse the consequences can get.

“At first drinking was just something fun that I could do with my friends,” an anonymous senior boy said. “Now I drink to get through the day.”

ties,” an anonymous senior boy said. “I eventually began drinking just because it became a social normality.”

Teens are commonly subjected to wanting to fit in with their peers and, as a result, they conform to what others around them are doing.

“When I’m drinking I feel like I can do anything,” an anonymous junior girl said.

Alcohol is notorious for being “liquid courage”, which can make it more appealing to people looking for that extra confidence.

Binge drinking can cause a multitude of issues, including the degradation of physical and mental health.

“After a while it would seem like

I couldn’t function normally without drinking,” an anonymous junior girl said.

Sometimes parents can contribute to the issue of underage consumption by allowing their children to drink or host parties.

“When my parents found out that I had been drinking, they weren’t as mad as I expected,” an anonymous sophomore girl said. “They were actually glad that I was doing it in their house instead of somewhere else.”

By parents being OK with their child drinking, sometimes that might encourage their child to partake in drinking more than they would have if their parent hadn’t allowed them to initially.

“I think that there will always be something that teens do that they shouldn’t be doing,” an anonymous senior boy said. “Right now that just happens to be drinking.”

Gazette illustration /MCKENNA ARAM

Teenage drinking comes with consequences.

Friday, April 13, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

News A6

CHAPEL: Select teachers are gifted $1,000 for allowing the church to use their rooms Continued from page A1 the chapel.

“They give us gifts at certain times of the year like Christmas; before we go off to break we will usually find some sort of like note and gift card on our table,” McLearan said. “Sometimes they’ll give us supplies, which are very useful to us.”

So it was no surprise when McLearan walked into his classroom early in the year to find an envelope from the church. But what was inside caused more confusion than intended.

“There was a note basically again thanking us for the usage of our rooms – and then a check for $1,000,” McLearan said.

“I had never received a gift of that amount before.”

Mike Spiro, Harvest Bible Chapel’s Director of Assimilation, said the checks were decided upon by the Harvest staff and elder board.

The amount was decided upon by committee, and we wanted to make it a generous gift to six people on campus who have been kind, gracious and patient with us as a group,” Spiro said in an email.

“Jesus freely gives us the gift of grace and love, we can do nothing to deserve it.

These gifts were given in light of the grace and love of Jesus.”

But is it appropriate for a teacher to accept a donation of that magnitude? McLearan certainly did not know the answer, so he brought the check to the front office and asked Meagan Swartz, principal Jennifer Leighton’s administrative assistant, for guidance.

“I said, ‘Hey, are you aware that … those of use whose rooms are used – all of us got checks,” McLearan said. “I said, ‘Can I accept this? Should I accept this? Counsel me here. … I’m not quite sure what to do.’”

This was new territory for administrators at GBHS, so they were unsure how

to o proceed. Assistant principal Brian McNulty and Leighton referred to the California Department of Education policy, which revealed that teachers can accept only up to $100 in the form of gifts.

Once administrators reached out to the church, Leighton said the pastor was very apologetic and had good intentions when writing the checks.

“We did not know about the board policy,” Spiro said in an email. “If we had known, we would have acted in accordance with the policy from the beginning.

In the future I plan to talk with the GBHS administration before doing anything regarding donations to the school or gifts to school personnel.”

Following policy guidelines, the administration collected all the checks from the eight or so teachers and returned them to the church.

“Some were more willing to pass (the checks) back than others,” Leighton said.

“But in the end, we got them all back.”

Harvest Bible Chapel then resent each of the teachers a check for $100 plus an additional $900 to be put to a cause of the teacher’s choice.

McLearan chose to donate the money to the St. Baldrick’s and Make a Wish foundations – both with club representation on campus.

“Supplies wise … I have everything I need,” McLearan said. “And also I’m part of a department that if I needed something, I would just buy it for our department. So I said and thought that would be best to direct it ($900 donation) back into the school community and direct into the student community.”

Social science teacher Jason Rath was another teacher who was a check recipient. When Rath saw the check for $1,000 on his desk, he was also taken aback and decided to act quickly.

“I had a golf match later that day and

didn’t want to walk around with $1,000 in my pocket so I cashed it, and then I got a text message from the administration saying ‘You can’t do that. Give us the money back now,’” Rath said. “I felt like they treated me as if I did something wrong.”

Rath said he later received a strongly worded email from administration about district policy when receiving monetary gifts.

“It (the email) felt aggressive in tone, and I wasn’t the only one who felt that way,” Rath said. “And the funny thing is that in my communication with the church, the church said the complete opposite – that from the administrative perspective they were very kind and sweet to them and very helpful, but all of us were like, ‘Why weren’t they like that with us?’”

Rath said the whole issue should have been resolved with colleague-to-colleague, in-person communication.

“We’ve taken away interpersonal communication,” Rath said. “So when you send people text messages and emails return immediately (saying) ‘Do this that or the other,’ wait a minute – you’re not being very kind. I think a lot of times … teachers and administration – we have to sometimes butt heads, but at the end of the day, we’re all colleagues.”

Unlike Rath, Spiro said the school’s administration was very kind and communicative when addressing the issue.

“GBHS administration was fair and friendly in dealing with me personally and our church as a whole,” Spiro said in an email. “The communication between Principal Leighton, Vice Principal McNulty and myself was professional and compassionate in my opinion. Mr. McNulty called me and explained the policy, and helped us to find a solution that would benefit the teachers and others on campus. I personally appreciated the way the situation was handled between the administration and

the church.”

Rath made clear all he wants is fair, equal treatment. Is the administration looking into the monetary value of all gifts received by educators?

“I think all any of us would want from this process is equity – with everything,” Rath said. “You’re going to come after us because we got $1,000. Are you going to do the same thing for everybody who receives a gift. Everybody? The obvious answer is no.”

Even Leighton said it’s difficult to keep tabs on everything educators receive – whether it’s gifts from students or merchandise from outside organizations.

“We haven’t really tried that hard, so that might be something we pay closer attention to,” Leighton said. “But luckily this situation was brought to our attention.”

Leighton acknowledged the tedious but important act of reporting all gifts.

“We just have to be really careful,” Leighton said. “For instance I got some tennis shoes from a Nike (representative), but I had to claim those. I had to fill out a form, send it over to the district office and then I get taxed on the cost of the shoes.”

So why is the gifting limit $100?

“As far as the $100, I just think that you get close to that line of bribery,” Leighton said. “I’m not saying that’s what the church was trying to do, but if nothing was monitored, you could get into a really weird situation of perhaps somebody trying to buy off a certain grade. I don’t think our teachers would fall for it, but this way it makes it really clear that it can’t be anything over $100.”

Rath said even if teachers are receiving valuable gifts, whether they accept them or not should be their decision.

“I don’t care if teacher X gets a gift – it’s not my business,” Rath said. “Teacher X might deserve that. If parents want to let them use a cabin, I don’t really care. It’s

their personal business.”

But Rath draws the line at bribery. He feels each case needs to be addressed individually to distinguish between generosity and greed.

“I won’t take something from somebody if I thought they were trying to get something from me – like a grade,” Rath said.

“I always tell them ‘Hey I don’t want this.’

You earn the grade you earn and don’t need to do anything for me.”

To McLearan, it all comes down to how he practices integrity.

“As a person who considers themselves a person of integrity, I had to sort of weigh (the options). So there’s this check in my hand and my integrity said that I did not do anything to earn this – so it’s not mine,” McLearan said. “So again, my own personal integrity said that this is something I couldn’t keep.”

McLearan said everybody has their right to live by different ideas of what is ethical or moral. But as a teacher, he said it felt wrong to keep something that could benefit another in a much more impactful way.

“By nature the teaching profession is where it’s for others and not for yourself,” McLearan said. “Typically you’re there to to educate others. I felt like that that money could be better spent elsewhere for others that needed it more than I do.”

Even though the situation unraveled different than what was planned, Spiro said his intention in giving such generous donations was to show the immense gratitude Harvest Bible Chapel has for GBHS faculty and staff.

“We greatly appreciate the ability to rent the GBHS facilities for the last 4 1/2 years and are thankful for the relationship we have with GBHS staff, the administration and the district.”

RETIRES: A look into what Severson looks forward to in his retirement from RJUHSD Continued from page A1 for, you know, 30, almost 30 years now,” Severson said. “And so I look forward to just sleeping in, going to the gym and working out every day instead of trying to sneak it in there once in a while.”

However, one of the reasons why Severson’s retirement is so especially relevant to Granite Bay High is that he was the school’s founding principal, and he supervised the building and opening of the school literally from the ground up – an experience he recalled fondly.

“It really was a unusual experience – I’m so glad I got a chance to do that during my career.”

Severson said. “I had a year before the school opened while they were building it. I did about 30 desserts out in the community, and so I ‘d just go in and they’d invite their neighbors to come. We’d have coffee and cake or pie and talk to the community about, ‘What do you want the high school to be like and feel like?’ and ‘What are your hopes and dreams?’”

Severson had a central role in the planning of the campus all the way down to the smallest details.

“The designer called and said, ‘We were trying to figure out what color you (wanted) for the restroom dividers?’ I said, ‘I never even noticed the restroom dividers before,’” Severson said. “I did some research and ... if you’ll notice ... the color of pencil lead there. That was intentional. Because that way, boys who are bored, think it’s not worth drawing on because it’s too dark. Whereas if you have a light beige restroom divider, some kids see that as a nice canvas to do that.”

After Severson left his position at Granite Bay High to become an assistant superintendent, he also fostered the desire for principal Jennifer Leighton to pursue administration.

“I started as the choir teacher over here, and he was just very supportive of me,” Leighton said.

“He came to me one day and said, ‘You know, you really should consider’ (becoming an administrator). And I said, ‘Me? OK, I’ll think about it.’ And I went back and said, ‘Yeah, OK, I’ll give it a shot.’”

Even after Severson moved up into the upper echelons of ad-

READ THE

GAZETTE

ministration, he retained a unique innate understanding of GBHS culture in his superintendent role.

“Not only is he a great administrator, but he understands Granite Bay, and that’s the part I’m going to miss since he was principal here,” Leighton said. “A lot of times people at other schools don’t understand how Granite Bay is

different. There are similarities, of course. But then there’s differences.

We just have, you know, so many overachieving and hardworking students and passionate teachers.”

Additionally, Severson offered a more human approach to her dealings with district-wide administration.

“I could always call him with cer-

tain dilemmas and he can give me insight because he had dealt with it before,” Leighton said. “I can still call him when he’s retired, but he’ll probably be less available.”

However, logistically Severson’s retirement is challenging for the district, as it’s catalyzed a chain reaction district wide – administrators leave their jobs to move

higher up in the chain of command. Because of this, it’s possible there might not be a new superintendent chosen by the end of the school year.

However, Severson is not worried about how the district will handle this development.

“This district is filled with really talented, really talented people,”

Severson said. “My first year as superintendent we had 30, 33 administrators in the district and 16 people were in different positions or were new to the district. … All healthy organizations go through that process, and it’s just going to be a time of transition and it’s going to be, I think, a great time for the school district.”

Ken Hansen General Building Contractor www.home-remodel-repair.com (916) 580-4302 License No. 391373

Friday, April 13, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

News A7

MARCH: Gun control debate compounds in aftermath of school walkouts Continued from A1

“Many think that they are immune from gun violence, but it’s a topic that can’t be ignored any longer,” McKinney said. “It’s imperative to recognize that gun violence strikes all communities and deserves our attention.”

McKinney said her parents emphasized the importance of speaking out and using her voice for change during her youth.

“I have three kids, two of whom are in public school,” she said. “I have always known there are dangers that are associated with high school-aged kids, but after (the Sandy Hook shooting), that perspective shifted for me. I hate that I have to be scared to drop them off at school. School should be a place of learning and growth, not an institution of fear.”

The Sacramento event was organized by 17-year-old Emily Stone, who graduated from Independence High School in December and will attend University of San Francisco for political science in the fall.

“Our goal with the March was to raise awareness of not only the national gun violence issues but also the local ones, most recently the Stephon Clark shooting,” Stone said in a text message. “While this march was sparked by school shootings, we want to reduce all shootings.”

Although Stone was unable to personally attend the march because of a prior scheduled trip, she was impressed by the unity of those who participated.

“We had such a diverse attendance, all races, religions, genders (and) political parties were there, but they all came together to support the same thing, which I think is so important to our success,” Stone said. “I loved seeing how involved the youth was and how our generation has stepped up to the plate … Kids are capable and determined to see change.”

As the mother of two children in public school and working in a school, Roseville High counselor Philomena Crone also chose to attend the march.

“I feel like my life’s passion is to keep kids safe, so I dents to know that democracy has to be an active thing wanted to be out here to be in solidarity with people in order for it to function the way it’s supposed to funcwho are like-minded,” Crone said. “I want change. I tion.” want a multi-leveled system to keep our schools as safe Angelone said she is not anti-2nd Amendment, but as possible.” rather she hopes to keep students safe in school.

Advanced Placement Human Geography teacher “What I am for is keeping our kids safe (by not) putKatie Angelone also attended the march, along with ting more guns on campuses,” Angelone said. “I don’t McKinney, physics teacher Andrew Phillips and dra- have all the answers, I just know something needs to ma teacher Kyle Holmes. change because enough is enough.”

“I never thought this would become an issue the way Junior Jake McKillop attributes the rise in school it has over recent years,” Angelone shootings to a societal change. said.

“Mass school shooting were non While Angelone said her role as existent 25 years ago despite gun a teacher hasn’t necessarily changed laws being way more relaxed,” McKIf we just sit by in her 14 years of teaching, one thing illop said in a text message. “Every has – the number of school shootand apathetically school shooter was somewhat of ings happening seemingly more and a social outcast or reject. A large wait for things to more frequently. majority have lived in a household change, we aren’t without their biological father. A “What has changed is the increase in lock downs, having to put a device doing our jobs as good percentage play violent video on my door so I can lock it without games. Statistics go on and on.” citizens. being shot, having a bucket in my While McKillop said he believes – Katie Angelone, AP room so kids can pee if we are stuck California’s extensive background Human Geography inside for extended periods of time, check process is beneficial, he says it teacher having to have discussions with my isn’t perfect. students about how to barricade the “The only legislation I see to wield door and having to think that it’s a positive effects is even tighter backpossibility at any moment is what ground checks and the ban of bump has changed,” Angelone said. “I still stocks. I don’t really feel it reasonhave the same responsibilities to provide the best ed- able for someone to have access to magazines that hold ucation I can to my students, build relationships with over 20 rounds, but it would be nearly impossible to them and prepare them for the future, but now I have regulate clips (or) magazines. the added fear that one day, we could be next to come “At the same time, I can’t fathom why the age limit face to face with a mass shooting.” may be increased to 21 nationally as a requirement to Angelone hopes her activism encourages students to purchase a gun. If you can serve in the military at 18, speak out and stand up for change. then you should be able to buy a gun at 18.”

“I was impressed that the march was organized by McKillop doesn’t see a clear solution to violence, but kids,” Angelone said. “I loved that at the march, there said the American society must change as a whole. were several people registering to vote. I want my stu“It’s of my opinion that negating the 2nd Amendment

HEALTH CARE: Teachers’ retirement difficulties Continued from A4 That is three years older than the average male and seven years older than the average female at retirement.

Among GBHS teachers, it isn’t common for retirees to come out of retirement to help pay for their healthcare.

“I don’t know anyone personally who has had

to come out of retirement,” English teacher Bob Prichard said. “I think our district does a really good job compensating its teachers.”

Prichard still has a long ways to go before he plans to retire, but he said maintaining coverage would be a major factor whenever he decides to do so.

Teachers themselves have begun speaking out against their wages and the low funding dedicat-

READ THE GAZETTE

ed to education in general.

In March, thousands of teachers in West Virginia and Oklahoma walked off the job in a bold, calculated move to demand significant pay raises and increases in state funding toward education.

“My whole family is on my health plan,” Stafford said. “State workers get health benefits (in retirement) – but teachers get none.”

would just enable evil to manifest itself easier,” he said.

“I believe guns in the possession of a responsible person do much more good than bad. In Switzerland, over a quarter of people have guns, yet the rate of annual deaths from firearms are nearly zero percent there.

“The UK does not permit guns freely, and the current controversy is knives. There are currently riots in the UK because of knife violence. When people intend to hurt others, they find a way.”

Many say harsher restrictions are necessary for a reduction in gun violence.

“I see the purpose of owning a gun as being a mean of self defense — used responsibly, they’re a measure of protection,” McKillop said. “I think that more can be done to make sure that those who are mentally unstable don’t get guns, though at the same time, most shooters don’t get the weapon legally.”

Junior Bethany Brooding, who organized the GBHS campus walkout on March 14, attended the march in Sacramento as well. Brooding is heavily involved in local marches and protests, having attended the Women’s March and March for Science, among others in the past.

“I noticed that there was definitely an older generation there, not only just parents but even some people who were probably in their 70s or higher,” Brooding said. “Statistically speaking, elderly people tend to vote more conservatively and have more Republican or conservative views, which doesn’t always line up with the issue of gun reform or control. So I was really surprised to see just the demographic that was there.”

Brooding said such a large march allowed for greater news coverage and presence, so large participation was critical.

“You have to use your voice whether it be on a ballot or in the streets,” Angelone said. “If we just sit by and apathetically wait for things to change, we aren’t doing our jobs as citizens and are taking a risk in allowing our democracy to erode.”

READ THE GAZETTE

Voices

Granite Bay Gazette

A8

Friday w April 13, 2018

GAZETTE The Granite Bay

GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL 1 GRIZZLY WAY GRANITE BAY, CA 95746

Editors-in-Chief: McKenna Aram Katie Cologna Brayden Johnk Steph Kang Sabina Mahavni News Editor: Will Anderson Voices Editor: Samreen Siddiqui Lifestyle Editors: Noelani Nichols Reese Richmond Emily Talmi Sidney Zabell Green Screen Editors: Mackenzie Brown Logan Embree Jack Kehoe Ashley Yung Sports Editors: Spencer Cova Jake Criscione Abbie Gould Max Schwartz Social Media Editors: Milan French Kennedy Healy Online Editor: Bruce Russell Illustrators: Katie Cologna Sabina Mahavni Samreen Siddiqui Staff Writers/ Photographers: Jordan Blair Kavana Gonur Bella Hamilton Emily Hansen Elliott Hyman Angelina Kolosey Ashley Lucia Keyuri Pillay Dylan Rowe Akhil Shah Lauren Stargardter Adviser: Karl Grubaugh The Gazette is published eight times per academic year by students in the advanced journalism class at Granite Bay High School.

Content is determined by the staff and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Granite Bay High School’s faculty, administration, adviser or student body.

Students are protected in their exercise of press freedom by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and California Education Code 48907.

Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer.

Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged and must be signed, although anonymity can be granted on a caseby-case basis.

The editorial board reviews letters to the editor, advertising and guest commentaries and reserves the right to edit and refuse material. Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Granite Bay High School or violation of copyright laws.

Send Letters to the Editor to: gbgazette@yahoo.com Identification Statement GRANITE BAY GAZETTE PUBLISHED EIGHT TIMES PER ACADEMIC YEAR c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

Anxiety is not a cliché Mental conditions are difficult to live with

A

COMMENTARY

nxiety. ety – I have the most supportive friends Definition: and family, I live in a happy home, I go A modern to an amazing school, and I’m a relacliché. At least this tively happy person – so how could I is how I feel anxiety complain? is defined in today’s However, it wasn’t until I started seeworld. It seems that ing a therapist that I was able to undereveryone I talk to sufstand the reason behind my anxiety. fers from “anxiety.”

While anxiety is often caused by life Someone’s nervous events, it can also be about taking a test? caused by a chemiAnxiety. Someone’s cal imbalance worried about getting in the brain, accepted into their which is top college? Anxiety. what I have.

Someone’s anxious After learnrrichmond.gazette@gmail.com about having troubles ing the reawith their significant son behind other? Anxiety. It’s as if people attribute every my anxiety, I was bit of stress to the legitimate and diagnosable able to accept it, issue that is anxiety. understand it and And this is where I become frustrated. most importantly, As someone who suffers from extreme and not be ashamed of diagnosed anxiety, it’s incredibly upsetting it. I now look at it as and rather condescending to be looked at as something I can ima cliché – as a person who suffers from the prove rather than a flaw same “anxiety” everyone else suffers from. within myself.

However, I don’t suffer the normal stress Despite embracing levels that the majority of people do, but this truth, I still feel rather an extreme amount that requires attenfrustrated by the reputation from a therapist and medication. tion anxiety has in today’s Now, I’m not looking for sympathy, but I do world. hope to inform people that real, genuine, nonWhen I tell people that situational and diagnosable anxiety is real and I suffer from anxiety, I does not make you a cliché. imagine that they assume For a really long time, I felt so lost and I’m simply stressed, when confused regarding how I should cope with in reality they really have no my anxiety. idea what an anxiety disorder I looked at my life and seriously wondered entails. how I could suffer from such extreme anxiHaving an anxiety disor-

der consists of incessant overthinking and overanalyzing, questioning yours and other’s actions, being stressed for reasons you can’t necessarily explain, and having panic attacks.

When working toward improving your mental health, the efforts must be consistent and genuine.

There is no one way to improve mental health, but there are multiple ways to lessen anxiety. Talk therapy, medication, group therapy and other approaches are all ways to lessen anxiety.

Having an anxiety disorder is a burden, and it requires an immense amount of effort for people to improve their mental health.

For these reasons and many others, having anxiety, depression or any other mental illness is NOT a cliché.

reese richmond

*** Reese Richmond, a senior, is a Gazette features editor.

Teenage years can be challenging Live and learn through hardships

A

uthor C.S. Lewis once said: “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

Over the course of my nearly three years as a high school student, I, like most others, have had my fair share of disappointments.

Daily struggles like grades and tests float above our heads for years. Deeper and more substantial problems with relationships and families also weigh us down.

In the process through our teenage years of learning ourselves and figuring out this journey called life, hardships without a doubt are nothing less of a struggle.

I will never forget the day my life proceeded to fall apart before my eyes on Nov. 29, 2016.

As a sophomore in high school, I didn’t believe a level of “rock bottom” like the one I experienced was attainable for a second time.

Little did I know, over a short year later, I’d find myself in a similar place.

Perhaps the most dispiriting aspect of this reality is the extent of my efforts to grow out of a dark place in my life, only to find myself back a short while after recovering.

From the countless hours I spent with friends, to the days I woke up tired and dejected but

COMMENTARY

akhil shah ashah.gazette@gmail.com

continued to push through, to the hours spent in counseling, all my efforts felt nothing less than fruitless.

Despite these feelings, I chose to take a different approach and embrace my life fully for what it is, even the difficult and saddening aspects.

The single most substantial lesson my teenage years have brought me is the realization of an imperfect, unpredictable life.

Coming to this realization doesn’t assist the hurt and pain that come along with hardships, but rather it gives a rational reason to situations and problems which remain greater than the individual.

As high school students in

Granite Bay, an upper-middle class community, we forget that many of our problems as adolescents are still pertainable to those in other communities.

As a society, we’ve been conditioned into constructing a perfect life for ourselves.

The idealization of celebrities, models and athletes surround us.

We love success stories, but we forget that behind every success story is a human with an imperfect past.

Personally, I believe it is crucial to come to this understanding.

Rather than seeking a perfect life, we should embrace life for what it is – imperfect.

Now don’t get me wrong, I believe it is more than possible to create a life we love and enjoy.

But in all reality, life remains imperfect either way.

Despite life’s challenges, I cannot stress the importance of not giving up.

A cliché statement itself, but in all seriousness a key to forming a stronger and happier self.

Having personally been on the other end, a place of giving up, I can say with my whole heart and mind that giving up is not a solution to life’s hardships.

We’ll make mistakes. We’ll hurt others and ultimately ourselves.

Strangers and even those close to our hearts might hurt us. We’ll experience rejection and disappointment. We’ll even fail a few tests, and lose some games. And

Gazette illustration/SAMREEN SIDDIQUI

while none of this seems appealing, they’re simply the hidden realities in an imperfect life.

Accepting an imperfect life in no means correlates to accepting detrimental treatment from others. And the acceptance of an imperfect life should under no circumstances allow us to enter dangerous situations.

We live a life that consists of people with tremendous dual personalities. Humans who say one thing, yet act the opposite. People who say they care, yet purposefully cause others immense pain.

We live in a life which also consists of people accepting this for what it is. Hoping for growth and maturation from others, simply out of compassion and forgiveness.

Although crucial to some extent, still a dangerous game indeed. One which can result in astounding amounts of emotional and mental pain.

Despite this imperfect life, ensuring proper treatment of oneself from others is imperative for self love and happiness.

Ultimately, through the hurt, pain and frustrations of our teenage years, we each have the dexterity to find and create happiness, all while straying away from the overbearing ideas of perfection. *** Akhil Shah, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer.

EDITORIAL The voice of the Granite Bay Gazette

Gun debate is here to stay, not fade away

A

t this point, it’s clear.

The number of students filing out the Granite Bay High front gate, led and rallied by student leaders on March 14, is proof enough.

We have not let the jarring sense of deja vú we felt last month during the multiple drills dissipate into yet another news cycle. No, instead, we have retooled this emotional aftermath into distinctive social and political change.

Despite the odds, and no matter how many people criticize and question the resolve of individuals fighting for their right of safety, the debates about gun control and school safety are still alive and well.

One of our teachers publicly questioned whether or not many people would continue to talk about how to mend gun violence in schools after the shooting in Florida.

His argument was that people usually care about an event right after it happens, then move on.

But to these victims at Parkland, the shooting has defined their lives forever.

They will never see their friends again, their coaches won’t be able to see them at championships, their teachers won’t be able to say their names at graduation and their school will forever be a place of loss.

Citizens are fed up with gun violence, and they have done many things in order to voice their opinions.

Another piece of evidence that expresses the prominence of the gun control and school safety debates is the March For Our Lives that occured on March 24.

Many faculty members at GBHS attended, including Kyle Holmes, Andrew Phillips, Katie Angelone and Jill McKinney.

A large number of students also participated and went on to post their signs and efforts on social media.

The march was one month and 10 days after the Parkland shooting, so is the theory one of our teachers had correct?

Will we really forget what happened in Florida and move on with our lives?

Well, we can’t move on with our lives, we have to march for them.

Expect more protests, more meetings, more walkouts and more activism, because at this point, gun violence can’t stop without all of us fighting for change.

To all high school students: It is OK to fail There has to be room for failure

I

t’s OK to fail. Even in high school and feeling like the world is going to end, it’s OK to fail.

Attending not only one but two high schools in the same year, I have had some insightful revelations on failure based on my observations.

No matter where you go to high school, it will always be stressful.

It’s the nature of the beast.

Me being one of the biggest worry warts ever, I have spent a good amount of time freaking out about colleges, friends and general academic stress.

But as life went on, I realized how pointless it was to worry about things I had no control over.

I can’t change a person, I can’t ultimately choose what my final grade is on a test and I certainly cannot control which college will

accept or reject me in the near future.

I live in a small beach town in Los Angeles. I am beyond appreciative for the cool and opportunistic atmosphere that is offered in the seemingly laid back and chill town.

But life in L.A. is nothing like the touristy Disneyland or Hollywood façade people usually recognize it for.

Just like Granite Bay High School, my southern California high school it is a top-division, high-achieving school that has amazing results in sports and academics. The difference is how each school approaches failure.

High school in LA has been extremely competitive and cut throat for me.

It is a mix of parents wanting the best for their kids, students wanting to prove themselves and administration not solving the big academic issues on campus.

My high school has good intentions for its students, but they just

COMMENTARY

lauren stargardter lstargardter.gazette@gmail.com

aren’t executed as well as they could be.

What might appear to be preparation for the real world is actually feeding us to the wolves to fend for ourselves.

From what I’ve noticed, both at GBHS and at my other high school in L.A., the students I know are some of the most dedicated, hardworking students. Except the difference is that at my LA high school, it is never enough.

That, however, leads to a domino effect of debilitating stress and hopelessness. Feelings that no high school student should experience to that extent.

At my high school in L.A., they expect us to do everything beyond our limits and more, which is completely OK, we can handle the pressure, but there is no safety net or acceptance if we slip up.

The school focuses on the results, not the student.

On the other hand, I’ve noticed GBHS focuses on student development and their results, not just one aspect over the other.

Here I’m noticing more of a balance that allows for people to make mistakes, and still be able to pick themselves back up.

I have also noticed that the teachers here are big fans of their students’ success and well being.

I can tell the teachers are always in their students’ corners, cheering them on, wanting them to succeed in their academic career.

These are aspects that I truly ad-

mire about the GBHS staff. GBHS has also done a phenomenal job communicating and listening to students and their parents.

In my opinion, GBHS allows its students to grow and understand that failure and mistakes are just part of the process, not the end of the road.

This is a crucial aspect of what it takes to keep a student sane and come back to school wanting to truly learn.

Students are able to retain skills they will need not only in the classroom but later in life, and teachers at GBHS do an incredible job setting up their students for future success and learning to cope with inevitable failures.

Rather than fretting about doing everything with barely any leeway or academic support, it is OK to fail as long as people learn from their mistakes and move on. *** Lauren Stargardter, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Friday, April 13, 2018 w

Voices A9

The Granite Bay Gazette

HEARD I should be able to voice my opinions on the BAY But people can be very ignorant What is your go to April Fool’s Day prank?

“The saran wrap thing.”

freshman

Aaron Solana “(When) you fill a cream filled donut with mayonnaise.”

F

or the past few years, I have not felt comfortable on this campus to share my thoughts and ideas with those who carry opposing opinions.

I have found that it is easier for them to shut me down for believing something different than for them to take the time to fully educate themselves on all points of view.

This uncertainty and silencing of my own voice and First Amendment rights has stemmed from multiple encounters with my peers.

The most surprising was perhaps when I had said nothing, done nothing and in return was targeted for simply educating myself. In more blatant terms – I was harassed for my choice of news source.

These particular individuals took time out of their day to target me. They received numerous reactions out of me, of which I determined the most effective – to say nothing, do nothing, and let myself feel as though I had no voice.

Throughout those moments, I found that silencing me was

COMMENTARY

ashley lucia alucia.gazette@gmail.com

their primary goal. I then went on to realize that students tend to react to opposing viewpoints as though they are a threat to their own, rather than simply having a conversation.

For instance, the annual “rich out” held every year serves as an example of the exclusions of others’ opinions.

This excuse for school spirit is insensitive and misrepresents the student population.

I have multiple friends who were ashamed and most of all offended after seeing many of

their peers attend the Del Oro game.

Along with a significant number of students, they do not have the stereotypical Granite Bay wealth associated with this school.

Following this year’s “rich out,” in one of my classes, a teacher tried to have a classroom conversation about the misrepresentation this event fosters.

Students who tried to express how the “rich out” offended them were immediately silenced by those who said they believed “it was all a joke.”

I personally think it’s very interesting they referenced it as “a joke,” but then they went on to raise their voice and interrupt the thinking and voices of others.

Perhaps a little too passionate – if you truly believe “it was all a joke.”

This is one of many examples where conversations are avoided on this campus. Along with the silencing of others comes the disrespect toward the most unheard communities of our society.

I have seen my peers who are a part of these communities having their opinions and view-

points ignored and demeaned.

I have witnessed classmates reference their strong disliking of these individuals and desire to want to make them feel invisible.

I am unable to comprehend why human beings would strive to go out of their way to treat others as though they do not exist.

I am someone who will respect everyone for as long as I live. It doesn’t matter what your race, ethnicity, religion, gender orientation, or sexuality might be – you deserve respect because you are human.

We all have a heart, a soul, and a mind. Many of us experience the same triumphs and obstacles. We all have strengths that allow us to thrive and imperfections that hold us back from achieving what we want.

We are all human.

For some reason, this binding force in our community at GBHS seems to become lost in translation in modern society.

Perhaps this is because people have become so consumed in their supposed political party or which politician they believe is failing the system.

Instead of looking beyond these headlines, people are un-

willing to educate themselves on both sides of an issue. This, in return, is creating a monotonous cycle on this campus and beyond, where ignorance is accepted.

This accepted ignorance has led to a point in our country where there is more division than ever before. This serves as the purpose behind the necessity for these crucial conversations to be had between individuals of opposing viewpoints.

My peers do not allow the opportunity for open dialogue if their opinions are challenged.

Therefore, I have found other avenues where I am finally able to express my First Amendment rights. I have attended the Women’s March for the past two years and the March For Our Lives this past month.

It is in these environments where I feel the safest. Because there is nothing more comforting than being surrounded by thousands of people who share the same beliefs and hopes as yourself. *** Ashley Lucia, a sophmore, is a Gazette staff writer.

sophomore

Kelsey Cole “I don’t really like pranks that much so I would say nothing.”

Gazette illustration/Steph Kang

Self-doubt cannot rule my life anymore My happiness depends on it

junior

Tal Ovadia “I pretended I had something … people believed me because I don’t usually crack jokes.”

back from doing something I really wanted to do.

Instead, I took an easier class (photography) where I would have a lower chance of failing. y whole life the thought of ever My parents have always held high failing or disappointing others expectations for me to be successful has been my No. 1 fear and has in the future. had supreme rule over me. But I say now They risked everything leaving our is the time for my own revolution over my home country to come to America fears that control me. for me to have a greater chance at As a child, I would purposely not do success. So the thought of letting certain things in order to avoid failure. that great sacrifice down absolutely terrifies me.

I would not talk during class because I Recently, I came to the realization thought what I had to say was wrong. that I do have the world at my feet, Not participating in certain things at and that in order for me to be hapschool or voicing my own thoughts in class pier, I would have to let my fears go. left me with regrets and a lot of unspoken Disappointment is a part of life, words in my mind. but when I am constantly unhappy Because of this, most teachers thought I with anything I do, I am not really was extremely quiet or just not interested kpillay.gazette@gmail.com living my life. in learning (which is totally not true), and My parents do have high expectaas a result, I lost many participation points tions for me, but they love me for – and that made my grades go down. who I am. I am allowed to make mistakes in my life, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for art and but I know that they will be there to comfort me when wanted to try it out, but my fear of being the worst I do. I know I can count on them for guidance and artist in the class or just not being good at it held me

M

COMMENTARY

keyuri pillay

self-assurance.

I can’t be perfect at anything I try for the first time, and now that I’m reflecting on my younger self, the idea of perfection seems totally ridiculous.

If I am going to live an honest and happy life, I need to come to terms with how I am not perfect and I can never be perfect.

Freeing my mind from my self-doubting thoughts will not be an easy process, but it will be a necessary one.

If I can’t love myself for who I am as a person, then it is next to impossible for me to reciprocate the love and honesty of others.

Living an imperfect life means that I don’t apologize for who I am no matter what, and I work hard every day to be the person who isn’t afraid of making mistakes.

I know I am an intelligent, independent and hardworking person who can accomplish anything I set my mind to – I just have to own it.

I am and always will be my harshest critic, so I have to do everything to my utmost ability. *** Keyuri Pillay, a senior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Our school systems are flawed

senior

students engage in limits the ability of students to purs they approach their sue their passions senior year and colbecause those classes lege application time, would lower their thoughts of GPA and class GPA. rank dominate the psyche of One might argue Granite Bay High students. that students choose For better or worse, these to limit themselves monolithic numbers will to taking weighted have a massive impact courses by choice. on the lives of graduating However, those seniors. who desire to pursue Students’ paths are detera four-year college mined by college admiseducation at a top sion boards who attempt to college are implored cultivate an image of the to do so by admis18-year-old applying to their sions officials across ehyman.gazette@gmail.com school. the country.

In the system implemented The proof is in the in America, test scores, GPA and class admissions statistics – students who rank exert the greatest effect on admisdon’t have an elite GPA are denied sions chances. across the board.

Unfortunately, these numbers are The pursuit of a 5.0 can be harmful dictated to a large extent by skill at for the well-being and stress levels of playing the GPA game and access to students, as piling on classes with large test-taking strategy tutors rather than the workloads reduces time to sleep and do actual development of deep knowledge other activities. on course material.

For these reasons, students who focus The issue is, by putting such a large heavily on the GPA game often lack emphasis on the creation of a ridiculous interesting extracurriculars, a social GPA, students are forced to enroll in life and often never play a sport or an staggering numbers of weighted courses instrument. solely to gain a higher GPA. The elite prodigies that the current This “GPA farming” that competitive system produces are often extremely

Stop playing the GPA game

Amy Hung “I took the middle of the Reese’s out and packaged it back up and gave it to my son.”

staff

Laura Neal Compiled by Samreen Siddiqui

A

COMMENTARY

elliott hyman

boring as they have never had time to figure out who they are as a person or develop a healthy social life.

Also, the system puts students in competition among each other from the time that high school begins, as having a high class rank is something elite universities desire.

The competition for class rank breeds tension between students rather than developing a collaborative and supportive environment. And, as a result, this class-rank mania causes stress and anxiety in the student body at schools like GBHS. Students who have passions in the arts might feel slighted by the system as their consistent efforts to gain mastery at their passion are not rewarded.

In fact, taking several art classes – or any class that might be a student passion that isn’t weighted – hurts student chances at college admission.

This unfortunate truth is a fine example of the inherent unfairness of our current high school system.

Artistic students might be rewarded with knowledge and success in their passion but are looked down upon by colleges for a lower GPA and class rank.

In contrast, students interested in science and math are rewarded with high GPAs because of the many weighted science and math courses offered on campus – and thus they increase their admissions chances.

Whose right is it to decide that one kid’s passion holds more value than another? The system should encourage students to pursue their dreams and find whatever makes them happy rather than pushing them to be robots that fit into a predetermined mold.

A GPA is just a number. That number doesn’t determine the quality of your character or the true success of your high school career.

Class rank demonstrates skill at playing the GPA game. But it doesn’t demonstrate the depth of knowledge attained or the bond formed with teachers in a high school career.

The number-based system in use around the nation rewards a very limited group’s skillset.

However, the system excludes those who have different passions and doesn’t take into account the quality of the knowledge gained by students.

Finally, the absurd pursuit of these numbers hurts the quality of life for the students who decide to dedicate their four years of high school to achieve perfection.

The system is flawed. The pursuit of knowledge simply for the love of learning is cast away in favor of a more shallow goal of reaching a number.

Any passion should be respected and valued – and when people in boardrooms tell one child their passion is worth less than another’s, we’ve got a problem that needs to be fixed. *** Elliott Hyman, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer.

Friday, April 13, 2018 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Second look

News A10

Power of Powder Puff

ď ˇ Senior Zach Wong, top left, is thrown into the air during the Powder Puff rally dance. Junior player Chloe Ralli, top right, rallies her team before the annual game between juniors and seniors. Seniors Carlie Mallo and Dee Sims, top middle left, prepare for a field goal. Class of 2018 cheerleaders, middle right, perform in front of the school.

Senior coaches Zach Grable, Ryan Fina, Jack Powers and Matt Barron, bottom middle left, stand in front of the flag during the national anthem. Megan Nimtz and Nadia Gonzalez, bottom left, battle for the ball during the game.

Senior cheerleader Josh Fu, bottom right, roots for his team to gain victory.

Special to the Gazette /PAVLINA CLEM, Ursus co-editor-in-chief

Lifestyle

Granite Bay Gazette

B Section

Friday w April 13, 2018

COMMENTARY

Finishing high school without

sidney zabell szabell.gazette@gmail.com

REGRETS

My siblings have shaped me into who I am today

I

n the past year, I’ve realized just how grateful I am for my sister.

She’s my best friend, my partner in crime, confidant, the other half of our dynamic duo – you name it.

We have pictures of the time when we were maybe three and four years old, when I sat her down on the counter in the bathroom and used her as a canvas to paint on.

A few tubes of paint later, the bathroom was a mess. The counters were coated in bright paint, but Lindsey and I grinned into the camera, oblivious to what we’d just done.

Or there was the time I persuaded her into drawing our family onto the wall next to the dinner table in the kitchen. My parents had to paint the entire wall to cover it, but we didn’t realize anything was wrong with what we’d done.

Since we were toddlers, Lindsey and I were known as “the girls” in our family. Wherever I was, she was, and time apart was out of character.

When we were eight and nine, we tied together Costco boxes into an imaginary train. Lindsey and I put our dogs, hamsters and stuffed animals in each box as passengers, and each took turns acting as the conductor.

Once, all six members of my family and our three dogs piled into the car and drove all the way to Montana. The two-day long trip was uncomfortable, cramped and filled with banter. We played Pokémon and Nintendogs together as our dogs curled up at our feet.

A few years later, Lindsey and I went to summer camp in Santa Rosa together. I don’t think I could have handled being away from my other half for two weeks if I’d went alone.

Lindsey just turned 16 years old, and it’s weird to watch ourselves grow up together. I watched her pull out of the driveway alone for the first time after getting her license.

I miss the little things, like the eight-minute drive to school together each morning or having her help when we take our dogs to the groomers.

As we each become more independent while we age, I can’t help but hurt when thinking about the day we part ways and I head to college in just over a year.

My mom always assured us that our siblings will be our best friends when we are adults, yet all four of the kids in my family had doubts.

Kids argue, and it was hard to imagine what our lives would look like in 20 years.

I don’t know where we will end up in the future, but one thing is for sure – we will still be best friends.

I couldn’t be more grateful for my siblings, no matter what we go through.

So thank you, Taylor.

Thank you, Connor.

Thank you, Lindsey.

I love you guys.

***

Sidney Zabell, a junior, is a Lifestyle editor.

Gazette illustration /SIDNEY ZABELL

BY MILAN FRENCH

mfrench.gazette@gmail.com

M

any say students tend to rush through high school, their eyes strictly set on college.

This is considered normal, but in this process many upperclassmen miss opportunities that are only presented to them once in their lifetime.

Granite Bay High School senior Lauren Angelo has regrets about not participating in activities in the past, as do many of her peers.

“I regret not going to all of the home football and basketball games,” Angelo said. “I felt like I kind of missed out in being in the Tribe and cheering them on and being there to see really good games.”

Other students feel they missed the opportunity to be involved in school and campus life.

“The one regret I have had through my high school career would be not joining Student Government,” senior Ben Law said. “The reason why would be because you get super involved in the school events super quickly and through participating or

As upperclassmen prepare to graduate, many look back and wish they took advantage of opportunities earlier planning those events, you make a lot of friends and bond with them super fast.”

Students regret they missed the opportunity to feel and build more of a connection to the campus.

“I didn’t join any clubs sophomore year, (and) I didn’t go here freshman year,” junior Chloe Boyan said. “I was afraid of the time commitment but I wish I had known they were just a good way to share an interest with friends and new people who also share that interest.”

Other activities students regret missing include formal dances GBHS holds each year, such as Winter ball, Junior Prom or Senior Ball.

“I didn’t go (to Winter Ball) freshman year by choice. After that, since I played on varsity basketball, we had a tournament scheduled on Winter Ball night every year,” senior Ryan Haug said. “Some years I would have been able to go, but I chose not to ask

anyone because of the chance that I missed it.”

Senior Catherine Rubino says she has participated in all she wanted to in high school, yet still feel regretful.

“I’m a cheerleader so I was always on the sidelines for football games,” Rubino said. “I wish I could’ve experienced being in the Tribe during football games during this last year.”

Numerous additional students, such as junior Brayden Schauer have learned throughout their years in high school that it’s better to try something while the opportunity is still present because you never know when you will have the chance to do it again, if ever.

“I regret not doing Sports-a-Rama freshman year because it was really fun sophomore year, and now it’s gone.” Schauer said.

Some regrets include not jumping at the opportunity to join things they wish they did sooner.

“I wish I joined Student Government sooner because I made so many new friends and it’s a great way to get to know everyone on campus,” Schauer said.

Senior Jack McGrail had a similar feelings about a class he wish he joined sooner.

“I wish I was able to join Advanced Journalism sooner if I didn’t have so many classes sophomore year,” McGrail said. “I had a classic time as a sports editor and writer; it would have been totally next-level if I got to do it another semester.”

Senior Jason Dell’Orto wishes he had the realization about missing out on playing on a high school soccer team sooner.

“I regret not playing soccer my freshman year,” Dell’Orto said. “The team had a great group of guys that I would’ve loved go get to know earlier in my high school career.”

Risks accompany new freedoms of driving Hitting the roads comes with the dangers of accidents, mistakes

BY BRUCE RUSSELL

brussell.gazette@gmail.com

W

ith all the obstacles, precautions and limitations on the American road, few things are more frightening than the sight of an aggressive vehicle with a teenager in the driver’s seat wildly merging into your lane.

If you’re one of many Americans fearful of teen drivers, you’re not wrong – there’s a plethora of evidence to back up your intuition.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the 16 to 19 year old age group has a higher risk of

vehicular accidents than any other age group in the United States.

Joe Reinero, a junior with four months of driving experience, has already witnessed several hazards on the road.

“I’ve seen young drivers texting and driving and just not fully paying attention,” Reinero said.

Senior Andrew Boggs, who has had his license for over a year, was involved in a personal accident on Barton Road in Jan. “I just went a little too fast around the curve and I crashed because my car didn’t have traction control and it slid out into a tree,” Boggs said.

Boggs mainly attributes his crash to a fault in the car’s mechanical system rather than an

issue of inexperience.

“The car didn’t have a lot of safety features like traction control and anti-lock brakes,” Boggs said. “But I was also going too fast.”

Reinero and Boggs similarly differentiate the performance between young and adult drivers.

“More experienced drivers know how to handle different situations whereas young drivers might not know how to handle a car accident or how to get around it,” Reinero said. “When you’re more experienced you know your areas a little better.”

Boggs agreed, adding that the extra precautions proficient drivers use behind the wheel ensure better safety.

“Mature drivers usually take more time with their driving; they will focus more because they’re used to it,” Boggs said.

Driver education courses,

designed to teach driving fundamentals through both in-class, online and behind the wheel practice, also provide soon-to-be drivers with necessary training to pass the license exam.

Reception to the required curriculum has not been unanimously praised, however. A 2009 research study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that “the notion that a traditional driver’s education course can by itself produce safer drivers is optimistic.” “(Drivers Ed) taught me how to drive but they didn’t give me enough real world experience,” junior Jackson Greenwald said.

“They prepare you to pass the test but not enough for the real thing.”

Greenwald says that while his driving school did adequately teach him, he would have benefit-

Jackson Greenwald Junior says drivers ed courses don’t provide students enough real-world practice

ed more from additional first-hand instruction and prolonged lessons.

“The lessons are an hour and a half – that’s not enough time for actual participation,” Greenwald said.

Reinero, however, is adamant that driving schools have done enough to build sufficiency in adolescents.

“The whole six-month process and 50 hours of driving really helps teens to take on real life situations,” Reinero said. “(Driving) doesn’t scare me because I know at the same time I’m young and still trying to learn.”

inside lifestyle Wacky Scholarship B2 Faculty Focus

B4

Student Spotlight

B5

Can teachers share personal views?

What makes a teacher great?

Dance heads to Disneyland

Staff have little restrictions on what they may share

Students can develop close bonds with staff

Dance 2, 3 and 4 will take workshops there

B2

B3

B5

B2 Lifestyle

Friday, April 13, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Can teachers share personal views?

Some staff members express positions liberally with their students

BY ELLIOTT HYMAN

ehyman.gazette@gmail.com

S

tudents at Granite Bay spend over 1,000 hours listening to teachers talk to them each year. This year, students may learn a lot or absolutely nothing about each teacher’s personal life and views.

While some teachers feel comfortable sharing political or religious views with classes, others believe that sharing may be inappropriate and want to maintain a sense of professionalism.

In terms of guidelines, much of the decision is based on the teacher’s discretion.

According to assistant principal Jessup McGregor, the district doesn’t heavily regulate the amount that teachers can share.

“What teachers can and cannot share is a fairly gray area,” McGregor said. “The issue is that it’s a moving target – a controversial issue now may not have been controversial five years ago.”

Ultimately, whether or not something is appropriate to discuss is the teacher’s choice.

“It comes down to the teacher’s judgement and the context of the class,” McGregor said. “For example, we have a world religions class – in that class it is okay to delve into personal opinions on more controversial topics.”

McGregor said that the the reason teachers share such varying levels of information comes down to two factors: personality type and philosophy.

“The varying levels of sharing have the most to do with personality type, i.e. some people are more introverted or extroverted in the first place,” McGregor said. “For

other teachers, it’s an issue of philosophy – some teachers don’t think students should be able to tell how they think, believe, or act because they want to give unbiased information while teaching.”

According to McGregor, there isn’t a single accepted viewpoint among the community.

“We get complaints and concerns about teacher sharing views on both sides of the political aisle,” McGregor said. “That’s part of our community, it is diverse and so is our teaching staff.”

Mike Valentine, AP European History teacher, said that sharing information with students creates deeper relationships and more engagement.

“Students see the real side of me which makes my teaching much easier,” Valentine said. “Students trust me more.”

Valentine said that sharing political views is okay for teachers, but they must try to remain moderate so as to not alienate their students.

“In a class like mine, politics has to be an issue discussed,” Valentine said.

“As I have gained more experience, I’ve been able to make that message far more inclusive – telling students both sides of the argument.”

Although Valentine said that sharing political views can be beneficial, he said that religion is a topic that should maybe be avoided.

“You shouldn’t share religious beliefs; you can share that with a few students but not your classes,” Valentine said. “Religious issues like abortion should stay private.”

Valentine said he understands that not every teacher is willing to share personal

views like he is.

“Some people are just very private and if they do not want to tell students about their life well that’s just fine with me,” Valentine said.

AP Calculus teacher Cary Moore thinks the decision on whether or not to share with students comes down to context.

“I share things that I think are pertinent to the classroom,” Moore said. “If I have had experiences that might be helpful or interesting to a student about an issue they are going through, I would be willing to Gazette illustration /NOELANI NICHOLS share. It just depends on the situation.” While many find in-class discussion of their personal lives to be taboo, some Beyond teaching students derivatives and integrals, Moore says he truly desires teachers go out of their way to share impactful anecdotes with their students. to get to know students. when you do that,” Moore said. “It’s Something so deeply personal is not “One of the most important things for important to be careful about what I say, something shared lightly, but upon learnme, is not to be teaching just the subject even with my colleagues, because I want ing about the tragedy, students can gain a – it’s about forming great relationships,” to maintain a professional working reladeeper love and respect for the kind man Moore said. “I’m here to watch students tionship with them.” they know. grow, move on, and do great things outMoore shares deeper things about “I love what I do – not because of the side of this place. Part of that comes from himself as well – when it is the right time subject matter. I teach math because I trust, and trust is bred from sharing your to do so. know how to do it – I love creating relastory.”

“Every two years, when our school does tionships and a bond with kids to inspire To deepen relationships, Moore may Every 15 Minutes, I can share a story them to do great things,” Moore said. choose to discuss things as benign as his from my own life to help students under“The event itself changed my direction, I family’s taco night. stand the event and me,” Moore said. “It’s rarely share that, I only share that when “At home we have a Taco Friday, we not something I share liberally (...) but I it’s appropriate.” make a different taco each week and get do share it under the right circumstances For Moore, it is a tragedy that will never to share each other’s company.” Moore when I think it can be helpful.” be fully out of mind. However, the event said. “I tell students about it to be friendly The event changed his life and reality, set him down his current path that has and to reveal what’s behind Mr. Moore. It so telling students about it can help them resulted in a new love. is a conversation starter because students understand who he really is.

“There are things in your life that come to me with recipe ideas that we “I was an engineer for a long time, and change your path. That event gives me discuss.” at some point my wife was killed. When empathy for those around me going Moore said political topics can be disshe was killed it changed everything through things and inspires me to form cussed but under the right circumstances. about me,” Moore said. “It made me relationships with my students,” Moore “If you are open-minded and can have change from wanting to work on things said. “In the end, it has blessed me by a give-and-take, then political topics can to working with people. That’s why I giving me this passion that I love to do.” be discussed, but you have to be careful became a teacher.”

Campus monitors play a big role

Staffers even act as temporary police in times of emergency

BY AKHIL SHAH

ashah.gazette@gmail.com

C

ampus Monitors Jason Ott and Anna Hagen partake in important tasks crucial to ensure the safety of Granite Bay High School on a daily basis.

From riding a golf cart around to monitor the campus, to transporting students and ensuring their safety in crisis situations, both monitors handle a variety of tasks.

Jason Ott, who’s worked at GBHS for seven years, values his relationships with students most.

“Working with the kids, hanging out with them, dealing with them, getting to know them is my favorite part about my job here,” Ott said.

Ott further emphasized the importance of student relationships, as he hopes to be an adult students can go to if they have any problems and need someone to talk to.

“Establishing those relationships also helps me recognize and understand what’s happening on campus more. I think the kids here know I’m here for their safety and for them in general,” Ott said.

Since the recent lockdown at GBHS, students and staff have both taken extra precautionary measures in efforts to keep the

campus a safe, educational environment.

Ott and Hagen together played a significant role as campus monitors in the wake of the lockdown.

Assistant Principal Jennifer Buschmann overlooks the school’s campus monitors.

Buschmann explained the safety procedures Ott and Hagen took during the lockdown.

“Anna and Jason, as well as other site admin, follow the lead of the police once they get here. The police take over once they arrive during a lockdown,” Buschmann said.

GBHS Principal Jennifer Leighton confirmed that Buschmann had already assigned them specific areas in which to be, and that after the lockdown, administration (has) asked them to continue to be in their assigned spots.

Hagen declined to be interviewed, but Ott described his experience during the lockdown.

“I had to make sure all the gates and classrooms were locked, and I watched the back maintenance gate to make sure no parents came on campus,” Ott said.

Despite recent tragedies in schools across the nation, and a first hand experience of a lock down, Ott said how he still maintains the same precaution-

The campus monitors Jason Ott, left, and Anna Hagen can often be seen on the go in their GBHS campus golf carts.

Gazette photo / ANGELINA KOLOSEY

ary measures he took regarding campus safety before the lockdown.

“Making sure the students are safe, making sure the gates are locked, checking people coming on and off campus.We have to make sure we don’t have people on campus who aren’t supposed to be here.

There’s just more caution and awareness after the lockdown,” Ott said.

Buschmann confirmed that their individual safety measures haven’t altered, but there is more of an awareness from everyone.

The strenuous task of maintaining proper safety measures on a high school campus isn’t easy.

Leighton acknowledges the hardships of their jobs.

“They have to be out in the weather – no matter the temperature. They have to remain constantly vigilant, which is probably the hardest part – they have to stay in one place for long periods of time,” Leighton said.

Buschmann agreed with Leighton, adding on how they have to sometimes endure uncomfortable confrontations with students.

“Most of the time, people are respectful, but sometimes I’m sure people get upset and don’t realize they are just doing their jobs,” Buschmann said.

Even along with all of its stressors, Ott said he enjoys and looks forward to his job – especially because of his daily interactions with students.

Wacky Scholarship of the Month National Potato Council Scholarship Requirements: To qualify you must show academic excellence, and show leadership within your graduate of study. These include agricultural engineering, agronomy, crop and soil science and entomology.

Scholarship awarded: The National Potato Council offers up to $5,500 to anyone looking to pursue a career in agribusiness and wants to support the potato industry Who offers: National Potato Council Deadline: June 16 - Researched by Jordan Blair

Random...

Facts

BY NATASHA CHANDA

:

nchanda.gazette@gmail.com

1) Most toilets flush in E flat.

2) Ketchup was sold as medicine in the 1830s.

3) Cap’n Crunch’s full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch.

4) “Almost” is the longest word in English with all the letters in alphabetical order.

- Compiled by Emily Talmi

Student

Club Club Name Club President Lyann Luu : Key Club

Gazette photo /ASHLEY LUCIA

Ashlyn Hemphill

Gazette: What is Key Club?

Luu: Key Club is an internationally recognized volunteer organization that gives high school students an opportunity to give back to the community, take on leadership positions, and develop a lifelong love and passion for volunteering.

Gazette: Why should students join Key Club?

Luu: Students should join Key Club because it not only gives you a chance to volunteer and develop your leadership skills, but it also helps you find your purpose.

- Compiled by Angelina Kolosey

Gazette: How long have you been swimming?

Hemphill: I have been playing since I was five.

Gazette: What is your favorite part of swimming?

Hemphill: My favorite aspect is dropping my time in events and getting to hang out with friends at meets.

Gazette: What is the best part of being on the GBHS swim team?

Hemphill: The best part is the travel meets because it is a great time for improvement since there is usually lots of faster competition.

- Compiled by Ashley Lucia

Friday, April 13, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Lifestyle B3

Students reflect upon the qualities of preferred teachers Staff members who care are well-regarded

T

BY ASHLEY LUCIA

alucia.gazette@gmail.com

eachers and administrators are the backbone of school campuses. They are not only responsible for the knowledge students receive, but also the impact they choose to have.

Differences among teaching styles are inevitable. Students often perceive and respond to the differing styles accordingly.

“I think a successful teacher really believes in what they teach,” junior Devin Manzo said.

A teacher who is dedicated to students’ academic success is important.

However, students often find themselves looking beyond the standard curriculum when assessing their most important values in teachers.

“My favorite teacher doesn’t just care about the letter grade. She actually talks to us about how we’re doing,” senior Gianna Cassano said. “And you

can go to her with any problem that you have in any area of your life.”

Along with Cassano, sophomore Ellen Taylor also connects most with teachers that go above and beyond for their students.

“I think teachers should strive to uplift their students and show them that they are cared for,” Taylor said.

Manzo said he sees these influential traits in multiple teachers at Granite Bay High School.

“My favorite teachers are the power duo of Mr. Holmes and Mr. Phillips,” Manzo said. “They’re both very supportive and easy to talk to, and you know they’re here to help.”

Students on campus are granted the opportunity of having many different teachers throughout their academic career. In return, this gives them insight into which teaching styles they find themselves more than discouraged by.

“I’ve had teachers not very inspired

or not wanting to teach that subject,” Manzo said.

When students find themselves in a situation where they don’t feel inspired to learn it can become difficult to stay academically motivated.

“I think it’s important to remember that not every student connects with every teacher,” Cassano said.

Teachers are not the only faculty members that have an influential role in the school’s culture. Administrators are not only responsible for overseeing the academic culture of a school, but also the well-being of all students.

Students highlighted one administrator on the campus that they could reference as an administrator that truly has the students best interest at heart.

“One time I was having an issue on campus and I went to Mr. Mcgregor about it,” Cassano said. “It wasn’t necessarily in his job title, but I felt like I trusted him and he helped me with the situation, and that made me feel a lot better.”

It’s no secret that administrators have a tough job. Perhaps, through all of the

Seniors share their favorite memories

Some students’ favorite experiences aren’t those described in the movies

BY MACKENZIE BROWN mbrown.gazette@gmail.com

S

enior year – a time where every John Hughes teen-movie plot is supposed to come true. The best parties, the most exciting football games, and the perfect prom often make up the most memorable times of senior year.

However, that isn’t the reality, as every senior class is built of many differing personalities and dispositions.

Jessica Baker, a senior

at Granite Bay High School, experienced her favorite moment of senior year during Senior Fifth Quarter, the annual hypnotist show put on for all of the seniors after the last basketball game of the season.

“It was so funny seeing everyone get hypnotized and not knowing what they were doing,” Baker said. “All of my friends were there and some of them were in the show, so it made it even more funny because we were laughing at our own

friends.”

The hypnotist show proved to be a memorable night for most seniors because they wait all four years to finally experience it.

“It exceeded my expectations because I thought we would just be watching the people on the stage, but people in the audience also got hypnotized so it was very up close and personal,” Baker said. “Also, you could tell a lot more of what was happening which made it even more

funny.”

Senior Lainie Kastner, also has an untraditional favorite moment of senior year.

“My most memorable moment was the night before the first day (of school) and senior sunrise,” Kastner said. “It was so memorable to me because all of my friends made it so much fun and (we all) really embraced our last first day of high school.”

Senior year moments – even ones that seem simple – are magnified in their noteworthiness because of the fact that it is the final year of high school.

“My freshman year I saw everything the seniors were doing and I just hoped my senior year that I could have as much fun and be with a big group of my best friends,” Kastner said.

More conventional-

chaos, their intentions can become lost in translation.

A junior male who would like to remain anonymous has had experiences with several administrators on campus that have tainted his perspective.

“Administration is so disconnected from the school population that it makes them unable to truly understand the student experience,” the anonymous source said. “They allow no student input on school sponsored events or educational infrastructure, further alienating the population’s trust in them.”

The lack of trust between the GBHS community of students and administrators could be a result of multiple factors. However, Manzo believes the major root of this problem begins with the faculty with the most authority on campus.

“Administrators should have the same impact teachers do because they have the same credentials,” Manzo Gazette illustration /NOELANI NICHOLS said. “I feel like they’ve forgot who Students often look up to staff members who make they’re meant to be, and they should an effort to create a personal connection with pupils. find themselves again.”

ly memorable senior moments revolve around sporting events; senior Ryan Haug who played on the varsity basketball team, has a favorite moment that falls into this category.

“My favorite moment of senior year was beating Woodcreek at home,” Haug said, “The Tribe was really amazing and it was nice to beat them by so much after we got blown out (at our away game).”

This moment was special for Haug because he most likely won’t have a moment like this again.

“I’ve played basketball for a long time and we’ve had games like it before (…) It was just really special for us for some reason,” Haug said, “I’m done playing competitive basketball after this year, so I probably won’t have an experience anything like it again.”

School tutors lend helping hands

Academic help is offered to anyone who asks

BY ANGELINA KOLOSEY

G

akolosey.gazette@gmail.com

ranite Bay High School is full of eligible and compassionate students who take the time out of their schedules, in order to help out fellow peers by tutoring them.

With complex classes, many students seek help that can give them the opportunity to academically thrive. This help comes from tutors available for a variety of subjects in the library after school, as well as the College and Career center during intervention period.

One-on-one tutors available in the library require payment and offer support for those who are struggling.

Tutors in the Peer Counseling Center during intervention do not charge and are also available to anyone who is looking for support in a class they are not necessarily failing but would like some help in.

Sometimes, a bit of additional help and clarification is just what students need, and GBHS tutors are available in order to provide aid for this sole purpose.

Sophomore Mabel Oei, found herself in need of some extra math help and decided to work with a tutor.

Reaching out to a tutor proved to be worthwhile for Oei.

“Meeting with a tutor was really beneficial because I was able to get one-on-one help, which is really nice because it’s more independent,” Oei said.

There are some students who feel ashamed of asking for extra help or admitting that they need help, but there is no problem or judgement from tutors – they are simply here to help.

“By seeking help right away, it leads to a stronger foundation in the future because every other concept is dependent from the beginning,” junior and math tutor Shria Narayanan said.

Tutors have a way of not only benefiting other students but, in a way, their work benefits our community as well. “(Tutoring) benefits the school by hopefully raising overall grade averages and in the end helps them have less drop outs,” junior and peer tutor Josh Vaughan said.

Students helping each other succeed creates a strong foundation of support at GBHS and it correspondingly can help students reach record-breaking levels of confidence in challenging classes.

“It helps everyone grow together and strive for success. Tutoring not only benefits the tutor with skills they gain but the student as well since they are benefitting from thorough understanding. It essentially creates a more educated society as a whole,”

Narayanan said.

Tutoring is also a way for students to use their skills for the good and make some money as well. Vaughan uses the money he makes tutoring to pay for gas and Narayan mentioned the tutors themselves gain and remember more skills as well.

GBHS provides students with available contact information to eligible tutors who have succeeded and have a strong foundation in certain subjects they can provide help in. Tutor contact information can be found in the library.

“I became a tutor (at) the beginning of my junior year, mostly because my friends would always ask me for help and my teacher told me I would be good at it,” senior Shianne Dingeman said.

Being a tutor requires students to take time out of their schedules in order to help others succeed.

“I usually tutor right after school, or honestly any time that works for the student.

I will tutor at school if it’s an underclassman and it’s easier for them to just stay at school, or at their house if it’s easier,” Dingeman said.

It’s better to stay safe rather than take the risk when it comes to grades.

“I highly recommend getting a tutor,” Oei said. “If you aren’t understanding the class and are failing, then it is best to get the help you need so you can succeed.”

If you really knew me, you would know...

Londyn Milburn

“If you really knew me you would know my mom is the dance teacher here.”

Jordan Greenfelder

“If you really knew me you would know my favorite color is green.”

Cate Wolfe

National Park of the Month

“If you really knew me you would know I love to ski.”

Olympic National Park

• Features three diverse ecosystems: ocean, rainforest, and mountains • Contains 73 miles of wilderness coastline, 3,000 miles of rivers and streams and 611 miles of trails • Was founded on June 29, 1938 and is the sixth most visited national park • Also contains 60 named glaciers, 250 unnamed gla-

Josh Campo

ciers and the famous Mount Olympus, towering 7,980 feet above the nearby sea

Gazette photos /BRAYDEN JOHNK

– by Brayden Johnk, co-editor-in-chief

A trip to Washington state’s Olympic National Parl often entails a variety of diverse scenes, including ocean, rainforest and mountains.

“If you really knew me you would know I love fishing, being outdoors and laxin’.”

- By Abbie Gould

Lifestyle B4

Friday, April 13, 2018

Teachers learn how to respond to seniors' spring-term laziness

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Senioritis remains prevalent among the upperclassmen

BY KAVANA GONUR

kgonur.gazette@gmail.com

T

he epidemic has struck once again.

It’s not bronchitis, although the rainy season just ended. It’s not meningitis, even though it’s allergy season. It’s not even encephalitis, though our brains have had enough learning for a year.

It’s senioritis.

It may seem like it’s made up, but even Merriam Webster added it to their dictionary in 1907. It’s defined as, “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.”

And just like how each disease has a season, it’s spring – specifically, after college acceptances – where senioritis especially catches.

“Once they're done with college applications they let down for a little bit and then pick back up,” said David Tastor, a Granite Bay High teacher who teaches IB World Religions, CP English 12, and AP Literature. “And right about now, when they're getting all their college acceptanc-

es, it's a pretty tough time.”

Tastor’s statement isn’t unfounded. All seniors – from those in CP classes to those in the rigorous IB program – have all been affected to some degree or the other.

“My peers and friends definitely have Senioritis. I won't call anyone out particularly, but I feel that Senioritis runs fairly rampant in the AP and IB programs due to the massive stresses undertook by those courses,” said Angikaar Chana, a senior enrolled in the IB Diploma Program in GBHS. Chana is one of the students who have to take a slew of exams in the following months which contribute to his IB Diploma Score. These scores can mean pass or fail. Thus, it isn’t really the best time to slack, even if colleges have announced their acceptances.

Some seniors are prepared for senioritis and tackle it well.

“Whenever I begin to have a ‘screw it’ attitude, I try and remind myself that Senior spring is the last term of high school and that I should strive to complete it with flying colors,” Chana said. “In my opinion, there's no reason to give up on

the last mile when I've worked so hard to tirelessly fight through the others prior.”

Other students, Chana noted, deal with senioritis as a normal part of life, and simply try to live through and accept it.

Yet, while you can likely ask any senior how they feel about senioritis, it’s a very different situation for those impacted just as badly: the teachers.

“It is a common problem for all kinds of seniors,” noted Bruce Honberger, an AP Statistics and Integrated Math teacher.

“It's been going on for years. This year seems to be worse.”

One effect of senioritis is that the quality of work deteriorates for the majority of the seniors. It is a gruelling task for teachers such as Honberger to grade the tests.

“It's hard work because A level tests are easier to grade and senioritis tests are not usually that good,” Honberger said.

In more advanced classes, there is no difference in the senioritis quality of work. While students are stressed, it is the love of the subject that keeps them afloat.

“It is hard to keep my seniors motivated to try in tests and do homework,” said Suchitra Krishnaraj, an IB, AP, and

Gazette illustration /KATIE COLOGNA

Teachers offer senior students optional assignments instead of making them mandatory because they know the effects of senioritis.

Honors Chemistry teacher at GBHS. “Since many colleges are actually looking at senior spring grades, students are trying harder than in the past. Thankfully, many of my seniors actually like chemistry and continue to show interest.”

Unlike Honberger, Krishnaraj believes that this year’s cases of senioritis aren’t particularly bad. Being higher level students, a little motivation is enough to keep them working the rest of the year.

“Some amount of nagging and motivation works too. My most powerful motivator is to remind them not to throw two

Students turning down scholarships

years of effort away,” Krishnaraj said.

Tastor agrees with this kind of motivation.

“I remind them that they're about to go out in the world and they need to find the way to keep that motivation themselves.

It's not my job to be a cheerleader and stand on the sideline and motivate, whether it's their college wanting their grades or in place for their own pride, or maybe their parents have incentives form,” Tastor said.

chance to play early in my career there” Craig said.

When choosing his college, Craig wanted one that excelled in both academics and football down a full ride scholarship due to while staying close to geography and his family. home. Berkeley fit this It was the best criteria.

"It’s a flat place and I don’t really like flat places, I like to hike and school, closer to “I knew the coach climb.” Tabaie said. “It’s also in the well, which was home, and I have pretty middle of America and that’s way to a major connection,” a good chance to Craig said.

Gazette illustration/KATIE COLOGNA far away from my family.” Stanford is offering more money, but the athlete will choose Tabaie does have a backup scholJunior, Briana play early in my arship to University of California, Medvecki was offered St.Marys University instead. career there.

Davis, of which he only has to pay a scholarship for gymher quit the team this year to prevent further injury. nastics her sophomore year. After $2,000 a year. Even if he hadn’t – Will Craig, UC “I would have accepted the scholarship if I had not tearing her ACL during a routine, received the scholarship to Davis, TaBerkeley commit been injured” Medvecki said. baie claims it would still be unlikely Medvecki was forced to decline the Each student has their own reason for turning he would accept the full ride due to scholarship. down college scholarships. For some it’s as simple as his family.

“It was hard for me because I knew Senior Will Craig was offered how much work I had put in and how wanting to stay closer to home, while for others it’s not a choice. several football scholarships from long I would be out of the sport for” Despite the circumstances, college will always be colleges around the country. Craig has turned down Medvecki said. college, and the experiences we have while there is scholarships to both Notre-Dame and Nebraska Uni“TWU (Texas Women’s University) told me if I what makes it worthwhile. versity to accept one at UC Berkeley. could get my skills back I could keep my spot on the “You know you have to choose one in the process When asked why he chose Berkeley, “It was team” Medvecki said. the best school, closer to home, and I have a good As her injury refused to heal, Medveckis coach had of picking schools,” Craig said. scholarships are often offered multiple, each to dif-

schools. So how do you choose?

Some athletes reject offers ferent Ethan Tabaie is a senior at GBHS who was awardscholarships due to his participation in to be able to go elsewhere edourseveral wrestling program. Tabaie turned

BY JORDAN BLAIR

A

jblair.gazette@gmail.com

s spring settles upon us, seniors are preparing to begin the next phase of their lives – college. Acceptance letters are rolling in, and along with them, scholarships.

Scholarships range from your typical sports and academic scholarships, to simply being tall and choosing to pursue a career in potatoes – yes, I’m serious.

No matter what it might be for, scholarships are scholarships. They might be crazy or confusing, but they help pay for college – in the end, that’s all that really matters.

To put it frankly, college is expensive. For some, expenses determine where they’re going to attend, and they wouldn’t dare pass up a scholarship. So why is it that over $396 million of financial aid in California went unclaimed this past year?

Despite this, it’s estimated that $46 billion in grants are awarded to students each year. Those awarded

The debate on the benefits of a later start time Students speak out about their sleep deprivation

S

BY KAVANA GONUR

kgonur.gazette@gmail.com

ome are asleep at 6:45 am.

Some wake up at 6:45 am.

And yet others are at Granite Bay High at 6:45 am.

The debate on the benefits of later school start times has long stood.

It is not only the voices of students that support a later start time, but science, too.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need anywhere from 8-10 hours of sleep to function their best the next day. But GBHS students seem to be falling far below this requirement.

“I get roughly around 8 hours of sleep. Depending if there are test dates or a lot of homework, (I sleep an) average of 7.5 (hours),” sophomore May Lin said.

For IB junior Aditya Prathap, the

disparity is even larger.

“I get 5 hours of sleep on weekdays and 9 hours on weekends. I think it’s decent, but I could do better,” Prathap said.

Prathap is one of the few who attend the Theory of Knowledge class, placed in zero period. An IB Diploma requirement, the class begins at 6:45 am and ends at 7:35.

Prathap said she dislikes the class not because of the class itself, but due to its poor timing.

“It sucks just because it’s just so early in the morning,” Prathap said.

Lin and Prathap are just two students among the many others at GBHS who juggle AP and IB classes, extracurriculars, and social life, throwing sleep to the side.

These far-too-common sleep-deprived students heavily advocate for a later school start time.

“Personally, I wish (school) can start later so my brain will begin focusing in the morning and I’ll continue to be efficient throughout the day,” Lin said.

She does note, however, that not all students would appreciate the

change.

“It honestly varies between people. Some people may have sports after school or events/work later on so they wish school can start earlier in order to end earlier,” Lin said.

Such is the case for freshman Raha Elahi. She says she wishes she could sleep and wake up at a more leisurely schedule.

“I wish I slept at 10 every night and woke up at 7:30 every morning,” Elahi said.

However, she says doesn’t feel the school start time should be moved later, due to issues with transportation.

“I would not feel differently if school times changed because I am forced to wake up at 6 a.m. every morning due to the fact that my dad cannot drop me off later,” Elahi said. “I do not feel that the school start time should be changed because I prefer school to start earlier so I can leave earlier.”

In the case of later school start times, science seems to support a later school start time.

In 2014, the University of

Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement surveyed five school districts outside of the California area. The study found that students who sleep eight hours or more are less likely to have depression, fall asleep in class, drink caffeine or engage in dangerous behavior.

“I remember during one test week, I barely could keep my eyes open during class,” Lin said. “It’s a detrimental cycle because you’ll have to study harder and stay up late again.”

Lin’s experience is an example of the consequences of sleep deprivation - a consequence that a later school start time can avoid.

A poll conducted on the Granite Bay Today Twitter account showed that 72% of respondents were night owls, compared to only 28% of early birds, or “larks.”

GBHS Biology teacher explained why the survey is so significant.

“People classified as owls typically stay up late and wake up early, they tend to be more tired throughout the day. People classified as

larks are going to bed earlier than owls and waking up around the same time as owls, early morning.

They tend to feel very energetic in the morning and that energy wanes throughout the day,” Goldsmith said.

If not an early start time, it may just be the habits of students that make them feel drowsy at school.

The body secretes melatonin, a hormone inducing tiredness, at night, and it seems that today’s teens aren’t getting the melatonin they need.

“While we sleep, this melatonin is degraded so we feel awake in the mornings. Once evening hits again, our melatonin builds up and we once again feel tired,” Goldsmith said. “If we ignore this feeling or consume caffeine to counteract it, it's more difficult to fall asleep.”

Whether students should adapt to school or have school adapt to them is still a prevalent issue. In the end, the early bird may have a chance at the worm, but there’s no point in being early if it’s too tired to catch it.

Faculty Focus What do you love most about teaching?

“The daily interactions with students who inspire me and sharing a subject with them that I’m passionate about.”

What is your favorite activity outside of school?

“I’m looking for my next activity. Horseback riding was everything to me, and I can’t ride any longer so I joined a sports club and am taking fitness classes.”

How long were you horseback riding for?

“I was horseback riding my whole life, since I was a little girl.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

“I want a small ranch, with a garden and little animals. I will probably be retired and traveling. My husband is an airline pilot so there will be some benefits to traveling.”

- By Akhil Shah Gazette photo /AKHIL SHAH

Jill Cova

Read the Gazette, an award-winning paper.

Random Holiday of the Month: National Siblings Day

Date: April 10 How it came about: After Claudia Evart lost her brother and sister at young ages, she decided to pick a day in April to remember them every year.

How you can celebrate: • Give your brother or sister a hug.

• Help your siblings out with chores or homework • Compliment your siblings.

Everyone loves a good compliment right?

• A simple "I love you" can do the trick, too.

• A bonus for everyone: don't fight on national siblings day. It might sound simple, but for some siblings, it’s a great achievement.

- By Bella Hamilton

Friday, April 13, 2018

Lifestyle

w The Granite Bay Gazette

B5

Dance class takes trip to Disneyland GBHS dancers get ready to perform in front of employees and visitors

BY EMILY HANSEN

ehansen.gazette@gmail.com

S

tudents in the Granite Bay High School dance program are thrilled for an upcoming trip to the happiest place on Earth – Disneyland!

Both students in Dance 4 and seniors in Dance 2/3 are eligible to take part in the trip, happening April 12-15th. They will be participating in dance technique workshops put on by Disney cast members, and of course, taking some time to enjoy the park.

Gaining entrance to this Disney program is no easy feat, even at the high school level of dance.

“It’s a huge process. I have to send in videos to show the dancers’ technical ability and then I have to do a written application,” dance teacher, Deserie Milburn said. “I did that back in September and it took a couple months to even hear back from Disney.”

Disney isn’t the only one with requirements for their workshops.

“I’m really picky too with who I choose to go, just because I need them to set an example and try their best,” Milburn said.

Despite the lengthy process and tedious requirements, the workshops provide amazing opportunities for students who want to take their dance

career to the next level.

“I’ve had a couple students now who have went with me, loved it, and said ‘I want to go work and dance for Disney now,’” Milburn said. “I’ve had a couple that became face characters, like princesses, and I’ve had three who ended up dancing for Disney.”

A few dancers are slightly anxious, anticipating the pressure of what it will be like to dance in front of Disney cast members.

“I’m a little nervous because we have to perform in front of actual people at Disney,” senior Jack McGrail, in Dance two/three, said.

All in all, the experience will be extremely beneficial for the talented GBHS dance program. According to the Disney Youth Programs website, Gazette photo /JOHNNY ROMERO the workshops give advice on how to Last year’s Dance 4 and seniors in Dance 2/3 enjoy themselves in Fanearn jobs as a professional dancer. In addition, students have the opportunity tasyland while spending some time off from dancing. of the time to enjoy the park. For a few be so squished in the back with trying to learn and practice choreography to change,” Milburn said. “It was a lot from an actual Disney production. students, this will be their first time in of stress, too, on me because I needed “I’m really excited to go back to DisDisneyland. them to look perfect. When you’re neyland with some of my best friends “I’m most excited about going to in Disneyland, you’re representing and get to dance with Disney employDisneyland with a few of my friends Disney.” ees,” senior Lauren Brown said. because I’ve never been to Disneyland For these reasons, Milburn has In previous years, GBHS dancers before,” McGrail said. “It’ll be a good performed 30 minute shows in the park decided to focus on just the workshops experience, especially with the dance instead of performing. The dance for visitors. bros that I’ve gotten to know pretty students will be participating in two 90 “In the past, we’ve done performancminute workshops, and taking the rest es. The students always said how they’d well.”

TOP Spring Activities

Have a picnic with friends

Lay out by the lake

Plant a garden

Student

What are you doing after graduation?

After graduation I’m going on a senior trip to Hawaii with some of my close friends. Then in the fall I’ll be going to the Grand Canyon University for nursing.

Spotlight

What are you most excited about?

I’m most excited to start this next chapter of my life and to see what it has to offer. I’m also excited to meet so many new people and long lasting friends.

Take an early morning nature walk

What advice do you have for juniors taking their SAT/ ACTs soon?

My advice to those who are taking the SAT/ACT is to rellax. Once I learned to calm down and just answer my best, my scores improved and I was less stressed.

Claire Lugo Gazette photo /EMILY TALMI

What are your studying techniques?

My favorite study technique is rewriting all the important things.

Pick a bouquet of wildflowers

-By Jordan Blair

Depression is prevalent here on campus

Fly a kite

Students cope with depression, and it significantly affects their daily lives

BY ELLIOTT HYMAN

ehyman.gazette@gmail.com

A

According to several studies, Millennials and Generation Z suffer from depression at a higher rate than any generation before them. Depression can be a crippling mental illness which limits people’s’ ability to function socially, at school, or in the workplace.

Symptoms of depression include hopelessness, anxiety, loss of motivation, mood swings, apathy, and can potentially lead to suicide when untreated.

Granite Bay is a seemingly perfect community so it might seem impossible that depression would affect the Granite Bay High student body. However, although there isn’t an official rate given by the counseling department, depression is prevalent enough to be a large focus by the district – employing several trained counselors to work with students.

Holly Minor is a counselor at GBHS who regularly sees students suffering from depression.

“GBHS Counselors are available to see students who believe they are experiencing depression,” Minor said. “Counselors can work with the students to connect them with supports such as counseling, and work with the family to connect the family with resources to gain a better understanding of the causes and symptoms of depression.”

Minor said that there are many ways depression can be caused.

“There are many factors that can lead to depression,” Minor said. “Some of the factors include death or loss, serious illness, substance abuse, early childhood trauma, genetics, or a learned patterns of negative thinking.”

Friends can be a positive force in helping their peers overcome depression.

“Friends may mention the changes in behavior you see in your friend, ask how they can help, listen carefully and empathetically, and assist your friend

with connecting with their School Depression has been an uphill battle for Yean who still suffers from its Counselor,” Minor said. “It is very important to take what is said seriously effects even now after being treated.

“Depression is a really difficult thing and refuse to do nothing.” to go through, but it’s important to For GBHS students suffering from denot let it control your life,” Yean said. pression, the counseling department is a great resource that can help students, “When I come home after school I can feel myself deflate – exhausted from and put them in touch with professionputting on a mask while I’m at school.” al help they need.

When things became extremely dark Kasey Yean is a senior who has been for Yean, she was taken to therapy by suffering from depression since eighth her mother. There, she began to learn grade. how to deal with her depression.

“It was really hard for my family to “I never went on grasp and deal with at first because medication, for me they couldn’t really doing therapy and comprehend what I developing coping was going through,” skills was what I Yean said. “Before The competitive needed,” Yean said. my depression was “I still have to use environment treated I would go to coping skills and stay bed really late and at Granite Bay occupied to keep my then sleep all day mind off depressing can definitely and I would either thoughts.” create a sense of eat a lot or not at Social media can all.” inadequacy. be a trigger for her For Yean, depresdepressive thoughts, sion began with so Yean tries to stay – Kasey Yean,senior body image issues away from overseecreated by social ing it. media and societal “I try to cut off beauty standards. phone time as much “I think my depresas possible because sion started with body image issues,” I think social media is part of what Yean said. “Beginning in fourth grade started my depression through creating I already began to do diets and limit a poor body image,” Yean said. “I think my eating.” constantly comparing yourself to other “I think I developed body dysmorphia people can be really damaging.” at a young age because of the imposAdditionally, the competitive and sible beauty standards put out by the academically-driven environment of media,” Yean continued. “As a young GBHS has been challenging for Yean. black girl, I didn’t see anyone who “Especially when I’m in a depressive looked like me being called beautiful episode and I don’t have the motivation to do schoolwork it’s hard to be in so I assumed I wasn’t beautiful as a school like GBHS that puts so much well.”

The damaging effects of depression are emphasis on academic success,” Yean said. “The competitive environment often felt by the family of the student as well. at Granite Bay can definitely create a “It was hard for my mom to undersense of inadequacy.” stand because my life was perfectly As for those who may be suffering fine, but I was still suffering from from depression and still haven’t depression,” Yean said. sought out treatment, Yean has advice.

“It’s never too late to get help, even if you are in a part of your illness where you feel like you can’t be helped,” Yean said.

Depression can cause a variety of difficulties with a teenager’s social life.

Some of these challenges have been faced by a GBHS junior boy who has chosen to remain anonymous.

“For me, being around my friends has always helped me distract myself and deal with my depression,” he said.

“Although, there are times when I am with my friends and it feels like I’m not really there.”

Depression can make socializing difficult.

“Depression made me very reserved because I never wanted to leave the house and meet people,” he said.

“Even though I knew I needed to spend time with friends it prevented me from entering social settings.”

Social media is one of the main causes of the student’s depression.

“Technology plays a big role in causing depression among our generation because it reduces face-to-face interactions between people,” he said. “Social media creates an image of a fake perfect life that people pursue which lowers people’s self-esteem.”

The constant pressure that suffering from depression exerts on a person can make it extremely difficult to balance mental health and academic performance.

“In school, depression made it very difficult for me to focus because my mind was occupied with sad feelings,” he said. “It limits your motivation to perform in school.”

The student said that not everyone can get over their depression in the same way because everyone suffers different effects.

“Each person has to find what works for them, because medication is only part of dealing with depression on a daily basis,” he said. “What helps is finding things that you like to do and doing them – like being with friends.”

Take a bike ride

Blow bubbles

Play mini golf

Draw with chalk

-Compiled by Emily Hansen

B6 Lifestyle

Friday, April 13, 2018

w

The Granite Bay Gazette

Attention to Autism

The month of April is dedicated to raising awareness and promoting acceptance

Gazette illustration /REESE RICHMOND

BY EMILY TALMI

I

etalmi.gazette@gmail.com

t seems as though almost every month is dedicated to bringing about an appreciation, celebration or awareness of a certain holiday.

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and according to autism-society.org, the month promotes acceptance and celebration of autistic people as family members, friends, classmates, co-workers and community members making valuable contributions to our world.

Jillian Conklin, a junior at Granite Bay High and sister to junior Jonathan Conklin, shared how her life has been impacted by having an autistic brother.

“I’ve never really felt a difference (in my life) because it is something I’m so used to,” Conklin said. “I have three brothers and he stands out to me a lot more than my others because he is so bright, and he is so nice, and you can’t even tell he has autism because he is

the sweetest person in the world and I love him dearly.”

The month’s purpose is to break down the barriers between those who are autistic and those who are not – for people to become aware that differences in genetic makeup should not make a difference with how we treat others.

“From what I have experienced with anyone with any special need – mental, physical or emotional – is to be treated equally and with the respect that all people are due,” Special Education teacher Jeff Evans said. “The only way we can truly get to that is by increasing the awareness of the differences that can seem to divide us. This school does an amazing job of promoting equal treatment and the understanding of others.”

As more than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder, the promotion of awareness and acceptance is necessary.

“I believe that this month could impact others as this could be a month of respect, of accom-

plishments and of lifting up other people,” Jonathan Conklin said.

Jonathan plans on supporting the month by wearing as much blue as possible as that is the color meant for autism awareness.

It is enough to say that April is Autism Acceptance Month, but to do something to help apply this statement is a step in the right direction.

“We can make this a better world for autism by just always treating those with autism with kindness, respect and loving those for who they are even though they may have basic communication struggles,” Jonathan said.

Becoming better educated about autism leads to a better understanding and awareness.

“I feel society has come a long way in understanding autism, but more information provides more understanding, and the truth is, we are all still learning about it,” Evans said.

“Not judging or treating others based on preconceived notions goes a long way in people feeling accepted and understood. This idea

should not stop with autism.”

Evans later talked about how Autism Awareness month isn’t that different for him, other teachers and Special Education teachers.

“Every day is Autism Awareness Month, all year long,” Evans said. “The social issues that are focused on in the ‘real world’ shape the culture of this school. A large part of our job is finding a way to promote awareness and equality for all things, every single day of the year, because we understand that it affects you as students.”

Autism Acceptance month is about treating autistic people with respect, and making everyone welcome in the world.

“I think we need to accept difference, one of our main goals and our main flaws in our society is accepting difference,” Conklin said.

“We need to look at others with what they are facing and we need to find out ways to support them in anyway that you can.”

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette

C Section

Friday w April 13, 2018

COMMENTARY

Boys’ relays proves dominance GBHS teams dream about state meet

BY SPENCER COVA

jake criscione jcriscione.gazette@gmail.com

The madness of March March – a month filled with college acceptances, midterms, holidays and Spring Break.

Regardless of March’s busy nature for high school students, especially seniors, there is something much more prevalent when it comes to the attention of millions: NCAA’s annual March Madness tournament.

Though the term ‘madness’ refers to the absurdity of upsets and stories that arise in the tournament, I have found that the true madness lies in everyone’s obsession and excitement for the month-long event.

As a senior, there are tremendously more important things happening in the month of March that do not involve college basketball.

Regardless, I have been preoccupied with betting and competing against my friends and family in the month of March over the last several years. I have also experienced it in a classroom setting where extra credit was on the line. Even so, it amazes me how the tournament causes countless glances at the ESPN tournament challenge app on my phone and numerous conversations had with my peers.

I am certainly not alone as the 64 team, end-of-year college basketball tournament receives a tremendous amount of atten- The odds of tion as the eyes randomly filling of many out a 64 team adults, bracket are teens, and my one in nine peers are quintillion. glued to the screens of televisions or streaming devices throughout March.

What makes this tournament so attractive to millions? What causes this tournament to be such a priority for me in such a busy month?

Aside from the cinderella stories and outrageous upsets from start to finish, the odds of randomly filling out a perfect 64 team bracket are one in nine quintillion. Not a single person in the history of the tournament has filled out a perfect bracket regardless of how ‘educated’ they are on the world of college basketball. This doesn’t surprise me at all as the probability of winning the lottery is 52 trillion times more likely.

Whether you are a basketball freak or just an average sports fan, this month brings tons of astonishment, false hope and excitement that I have witnessed at the possibility of miraculously filling out that first ever perfect bracket.

The thrill of believing in my bracket and defying odds is what I believe causes my attention to return year after year.

*** Jake Criscione, a senior, is a Sports editor.

scova.gazette@gmail.com

3:22.46 – the Granite Bay High School 4x400 meter time that shattered the previous long-standing record.

The track team has had previous star sprinters who have had a long lasting legacy at GBHS including NFL receiver Sam Stroughter and NCAA sprinter Billy White. The current relay team’s talent has shown to surpass their legacy

Along with setting a school record, the team also brought home league and section championships.

“We did very well (last year), we won sections and came up just short in Masters,” senior Jason Dell’Orto said.

Given the team’s great accomplishments, the sprinter’s biggest victory of the season may have been retaining all team members.

The boys have proved to be the best 4x400 team in school history, and they have yet to reach their potential.

The 2016-2017 team consisted of runners Anthony Martin (current junior), Jason Dell’Orto (current senior), Ricky Frank (current senior) and Jaylon Latson (current senior). All of whom have returned to the

team this year.

With such talent and chemistry, the team has made it clear that they have higher expectations as the season goes on.

“Going to state is our biggest goal this year,” senior Jarad Harper said.

Though the 4x400 squad is not the only event team to have high aspirations for a record-breaking championship winning season.

The 4x100 meter relay team is coming off both league and section championships as well from the 2016-2017 season.

“Last year both groups were extremely talented,” junior Jake McKillop said.

Yet when the stakes were highest, the boys dropped the ball, literally. “They

should have gone to state last year but dropped the stick at masters,” McKillop said.

But like the 4x400 team, the squad has returned key talent, especially in the school’s fastest 100 meter sprinter, Jarad Harper.

This past weekend both relay teams faced their biggest challenge at the Arcadia Invitational.

The boys lined up against America’s best as “Arcadia takes the top 1-2 percent of track athletes in the nation,” McKillop said.

The 4x100 team faired off well placing 20th out of the top 51 teams in the nation as See RELAY, page C2

Special to the Gazette /BRANDON DELL’ORTO

The Granite Bay High School Varsity Boys’ 4x400 relay team celebrate their first place finish at the Sheldon Invitational and hope to continue their road to state.

Freshmen thrive on varsity Stellar athletes share their experiences at the highest level

BY ABBIE GOULD

agould2.gazette@gmail.com

Special to the Gazette /ANDREW ORETTA

Senior Teague Dilbeck runs a Half nelson into a pinning combination against a Woodcreek High School athlete.

Teague Dilbeck pins the competition Senior athlete commits to Colorado School of Mines

BY MAX SCHWARTZ

mschwartz.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School is known for its successful athletics. In these sports there are the star athletes that leave a mark on the program, Teague Dilbeck is a one of them.

Like many athletes at his caliber, Dilbeck’s involvement in wrestling began at a young age.

“I’ve been around wrestling my whole life, I wrestled my first tournament when I was five years old.” Dilbeck said.

From the beginning, Teagues father, Todd Dilbeck, has held a large role in his coaching.

“I’ve always have been coached by my dad,” Dilbeck said. “Before I was wrestling I was always around my dad’s teams.” Dilbeck said.

In youth sports, heavy parent

involvement has been known to push kids out of interest in their sport, Teagues dad took a different approach than this. “ My dad always has given me the option to how hard he’ll be on me. It’s all in my control and he is at my disposal.” Dilbeck said.

This particular way of involvement is what has helped put Teague to the level where he is now.

“Letting me take control of my own career has been helpful, I know for a fact if he pushed me from a young age to be the best, that would definitely make me not enjoy the sport” Dilbeck said Recently, Dilbeck received a scholarship from Colorado School of Mines.

“The assistant coach called me See TEAGUE, page C2

Beginning high school is already hard enough on its own, but when sports are brought into the picture it gets more difficult.

It is very rare to see a freshman athlete make the varsity team, but it does happen every once in a while.

“When I first found out [that I made varsity] I was really excited and surprised,” said sophomore Marli Bannai.

Bannai was one of four freshmen to make the varsity girls soccer team.

“I was glad I was on varsity because it gave me a chance to play with and against older players I wouldn’t normally have the chance to,” Bannai said.

Junior Kabe Teague also was selected to play on the varsity lacrosse team his freshman year.

He had a similar reaction to Bannai.

“I was really shocked actually,” said Teague, “at first I didn’t really know whether I was actually gonna move up or talk to the coaches about me staying down

[on junior varsity] because I wanted to stay close to the guys I’ve played with many years prior.”

Although it is a surprising reaction at first, many of these athletes say that they enjoyed the difficulty and competition of playing against older athletes.

“It was very fun playing with older players,” said freshman lacrosse player Brian Davito, “it was tough trying to hang with them at first but my coaches and teammates taught me a lot to make me a better player.”

This opportunity allows for the younger players to grow and improve.

The upperclassmen “were all much better than me at the time and every practice helped me improve as an athlete,” said Teague “They really played a huge role my freshman year showing me the way to hold oneself in high school.”

Bannai said she also liked how the older players helped her get better.

“I liked playing against older players because it helped me improve my game and also helped me meet girls in other grade levels,” Bannai said.

However, sometimes freshman are given a hard time being the youngest ones on the team.

“At first I was very hesitant not playing with my closest friends and instead with a group of juniors and

See FRESHMEN, page C3

Special to the Gazette /BRIAN BAER

Junior Kabe Teague played varsity lacrosse during his freshman year at Granite Bay High School.

He has played the last two years on the varsity team and plans to play his senior year as well.

inside sports Fan of the Month

C2

Stunt opens many doors for scholarships

A look at our elite golf team

Spring sports update

Grizz Quiz

C3

Senior describes stunt and her scholarship opportunity

Rebuilding team plans for a deep playoff push

Grizzly Athletics accelerate through the regular season

Athlete of the Month C3

C2

C3

C4

Friday, April 13, 2018

Sports C2

w The Granite Bay Gazette

New stunt program brings scholarship opportunities Hannah Mortensen turns down offer to go to Cal Poly

BY EMILY HANSEN

ehansen.gazette@gmail.com

C Cheerleading has been around since 1898, but earning college scholarships from cheer is still a relatively novel concept.

One student at Granite Bay High School, senior Hannah Mortensen, was offered a cheerleading scholarship to Concordia University, Irvine.

“I went on a visit to CUI, and basically I practiced and learned some routines with them and they took me on a tour around campus,” said Mortensen.

Sometimes colleges will offer camps or clinics to attract prospective cheerleaders for their team. These camps are the perfect opportunity for high school students to learn more about the college cheer programs they’re interested in. Another option is to send a skills video to college cheer coaches. “[Concordia] didn’t originally respond to me, so I sent them a

video of my top skills and some of my tumbling routines,” said Mortensen.

Mortensen also utilized her GBHS cheerleading coach, Briana Eigenman, as a major resource.

“Bri typed up most of my emails and gave me formats. I would say we did about 50/50.

She made the video of my skills for me,” said Mortensen.

The process of obtaining a scholarship for cheerleading is different than that of other sports. Instead of being scouted by coaches, someone wishing to cheer in college must take initiative and reach out to the colleges themselves.

“You kind of have to get your name out there. I probably sent emails to over 15 colleges,” said Mortensen.

The limited opportunities for scholarships make the recruitment process rather difficult.

“It’s a matter of getting in touch with the coach,” said

Gazette photo /SYDNEY ZABELL

Senior Hannah Mortensen holds a heel stretch during stunt practice.

Mortensen. “Since the scholarships are so limited, they don’t really seek you out: you have to seek them out.”

Unfortunately, not all colleges provide the same opportunities for scholarships that CUI does.

“Cheer scholarships are really limited. I’m going to Cal Poly and it’s not really a funded sport there,” Mortensen said, “you have to pay a couple thousand dollars to be on their team.”

For Mortensen, the costs of cheering at Cal Poly just aren’t worth it.

“I did really want to cheer in college,” said Mortensen, who decided not to continue her cheerleading career in college.

“It wasn’t something I was dead-set on,” said Mortensen, “I’ve done sports all my life, so I thought it’d help me transition easier into college life.

I’m not devastated that I’m not doing it, but I think it would’ve been fun.”

For Mortensen, cheerleading was not the only consideration in choosing the right

college fit. As with any college decision, there were multiple factors that led to Mortensen’s decision to turn down the cheerleading scholarship to CUI. “For me, I just didn’t feel like I fit in at the school. The money was a big deal for me because I pay for my own college, but when I visited I loved the girls but I didn’t like the atmosphere of the school,” said Mortensen. “I didn’t like some of the regulations. There was only one way to get on campus and you couldn’t live off-campus until you were 21.”

While the feat of earning a rare scholarship for cheerleading is quite impressive, Mortensen is content with her decision to turn down the scholarship at CUI. “It was a matter of learning about the community at the school and I just didn’t see myself there.” said Mortensen.

While cheerleading may not be in the future for her, Mortensen is looking forward to spending the next chapter of her life at Cal Poly.

FAN OF THE MONTH: Junior balances being a fan and athlete

BY KAVANA GONUR

kgonur.gazette@gmail.com

Being a fan of Granite Bay High School sports is one thing – being an athlete is another. Junior Brianna Medvecki balances both with ease, making her an exemplary Grizzly.

Of course, Medvecki enjoys watching GBHS games, “I love going to football games because I get to cheer on all my friends,” Medvecki said. “It’s a time I can forget about school and sports and just be a teenager,” Medvecki said.

Medvecki watches both basketball and football games and has been to 6 games over the course of the school

year. She especially enjoys seeing other school’s chants at away games.

“Other schools games are fun too because the fan section of every school has their own cheers and chants,” Medvecki said.

Out of all the games she has gone to, she remembers the football game versus Whitney High School the best. She followed her game day routine, which included getting together with friends and becoming school spirited.

“The most memorable game has been the game versus Whitney. I went with my friends from that school and [at] the hike time we were betting on who was going to win. Granite Bay took the win and it was just so fun,” Medvecki

said.

However, watching sports is not the only way she is a fan of Granite Bay High. Medvecki herself participates in two Granite Bay sports teams: pole vault and dive. Previously, she had quit gymnastics. She does not regret joining these two teams.

“I wanted to get connected and meet as many new people as I could. Joining these two teams has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my high school career,” Medvecki said.

Medvecki proves that being a fan of a GBHS sport goes beyond simply rooting for it. She goes beyond simply cheering for sports teams – she impacts them.

Gazette Photo /SPENCER COVA COVA

Bri Medvecki has been attending and playing games since freshman year.

Football treasures traditions

Varsity players share various rituals within the program

BY AKHIL SHAH

ashah.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School Football holds a vast variety of traditions and culture critical to the all-around experience both fans and players receive throughout the course of a season.

From practices to senior trips, traditions and culture run deep in the roots of GBHS football.

Despite football being a large part of many player’s high school experience, various traditions allow for players to be just kids – in a competitive and fast paced high school.

Despite the countless hours of hard work, senior captain Jade Foddrill described his long summers revolving around football as nothing less than amusing.

“During the summer we do lots of bonding games together,” Foddrill said, “as busy as our summer is with football, we can all sit back together and be kids – it’s always nice to let loose.”

Junior first team all league middle linebacker Jacob Ellis shared

his favorite traditions.

“We have some chants and cheers, my favorite is green machine. A type of chant we do after warm ups,” Ellis said.

One jersey in particular holds tremendous value in the football program at Granite Bay. “So many greats here have worn the number 5, it’s usually a linebacker number, it’s just really special,” Ellis said.

“The number 5 jersey is big here, it’s special. Cameron Smith popularized the jersey when he was here and it’s just been passed down to players who bring it on the field and have his mentality,” Foddrill said.

Despite the jersey’s reputation and importance, Ellis, a worthy candidate of the number 5 jersey wants to continue to wear number 4 for next season.

“My defensive line coach always tells us to make a name for ourselves and I want to leave my own legacy in number 4,” Ellis said.

Apart from the value of jersey

numbers, other traditions stay close to Foddrill’s heart.

Foddrill, a Catholic his whole life, appreciates the prayer said prior to games.

“We do a prayer before games, and say the Hail Mary. We’re all down on our knees in the locker room, others obviously don’t have to take part, but I choose to,” Foddrill said.

The student body at GBHS plays a significant role in the traditions revolving around the program.

“We’re very close with the band and the tribe, they have their routines planned for the games too. Tribe here is huge, having them in the endzone is such an unreal feeling, I can’t describe it,” Foddrill said.

GBHS football is always looking for and building new traditions to exemplify their exceptional culture and beliefs in grizzly pride, a moto brought about by Head Coach Jeff Evans.

Junior kicker Everett Hayes teamed up with senior kicker Brennan Holt this past season in efforts to raise money for cancer research.

“Apart from our relationships with the tribe, band, and our senior trip, I really hope to continue what we did last year with raising

money for cancer research,” Hayes said.

“Last year, we helped raise money for childhood cancer research through an online program for kickers. We got members of the community to pledge donations and financial support based on how well we kicked throughout the season,” Hayes said.

With both Holt and Hayes exceptional performances and efforts to raise funds, the two ended up raising 2,500 dollars for childhood cancer research.

Despite this last season being the first time GBHS football took part in a program like this, Hayes hopes to continue his efforts through his senior year and create a new tradition for childhood cancer research.

The various traditions surrounding GBHS football have aided in creating an extraordinary program in which players, coaches and fans all are awarded with an exceptional experience.

“The culture and tradition here with football is something you don’t want to leave. It’s so deep, something I grew up Special to the Gazette /SCOTT PEASE in and I wouldn’t want to experience that anywhere else,” Senior Jarad Harper runs with ball during 2016-2017 season Foddrill said.

TEAGUE: Wrestler earns scholarship RELAY: Track shoots for state Continued from page C1

one night saying that the head coach as about to call me and offer me a scholarship for the early signing period.” Dilbeck said. “it is a great school even though it is expensive it is worth it. Looking back it was a really neat thing.”

Improvement is a factor on why Dilbeck was noticed by Colorado School of Mines. “ (The School of Mines) probably noticed Teague was talented at wrestling and was improving every year. Improvement at his level takes a lot of time and dedication, yet despite those challenges he still earned great grades through high school”. Senior, Ethan Tabiae said.

There are two defining factors that make Teague the wrestler he is according to a teammate.

“He always works his hardest in practice and helps out younger wrestlers in the room, and the team looks up to him. Teague’s also very determined. He set his goals as a freshman and worked harder than anyone in practice to accomplish them.” Tabiae said.

Dilbeck also reflects his skill onto his teammates, helping everyone get better.

“Teague has so much knowledge as our best wrestler on the team. Wrestling him helped me learn a lot of my own mistakes in the moves I was I doing, and he

helped me figure out my mistakes and improve.” Tabiae said. “I definitely wouldn’t have gotten to level I am if Teague hadn’t been there to wrestle with me.”

Granite Bay Wrestling has benefitted from Teague’s involvement.

“Teague has helped the team grow for the four years we were in it, and he’s left a lasting impression on the juniors who will try and implement some of his leadership qualities for next year.”

Tabiae said.

“Wherever Teague’s journey takes him, his determination will keep him going till the end.”

Continued from page C1

well as coming in at a time of 49.09.

The 4x400 team set their season record, though unfortunately were disqualified as senior anchor-runner, Ricky Frank, bumped into an opponent.

As talented as the teams are, they have left lots of room to grow, “we need to get better, and we will,” McKillop said.

The championship winning teams from last season set their records in May, so the boy’s are confident that they are on track to top prior records. I “If we can get it together we can make it to state,” Dell’Orto said.

By working hard in practice and avoiding Special to the Gazette /RICHARD LEE further injuries, the team has a serious shot at achieving their ultimate goal. From left to right, Jason Dell’Orto, Jake McKillop, Jay“I’m happy to be on the team this year lon Latson, Tristan Lee, Jarad Harper and Ricky Frank because I know they can work hard,” Harper pose after the Arcadia Invitational. said.

Friday, April 13, 2018

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C3

Golf program sustains success Varsity squad prepares for a big season after losing five seniors last year

BY LOGAN EMBREE

lembree.gazette@gmail.com

aaThe boys varsity golf team is one of the most overlooked, undervalued, and underappreciated athletic programs at Granite Bay High School, even though it has consistently been one of the strongest programs.

Being a member of the varsity golf team requires a lot of skill, commitment and time management ability due to the amount of time that it consumes.

“Match day we usually get there with like 45 minutes to spare before the tee time and we all warm up as a team … five to ten minutes before the first tee time the two coaches line up everyone one through eight and we introduce ourselves (to the opposing team) as the coaches go over the rules and handout scorecards. Then we are off with the first tee time,” said Easton Holland a junior at GBHS and a member of the boys varsity golf team.

The one thing that many people are

unaware of is that only a select numbers of scores of players that compete count for the teams total score.

Six out of a total of eight players compete, and only the top five scores are counted.

The last and highest scores are dropped and have no effect on the score.

During match play, players normally compete in groups of four, two players from each team.

“You are playing with one other guy from your own team so he (Coach Healy) wants there to be good chemistry and for you to like the guy that you are playing with,” said Holland, “I play with the only other junior on the team so it’s a good fit.”

Playing with different people from various teams is also a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Not all matches are structured in the same fashion.

The majority of matches begin with everyone teeing off from the first hole but some matches also begin with a shotgun start – every foursome starts at the same

FRESHMEN: Athletes reflect

time but on a different hole.

While the GBHS varsity boys golf team mostly plays against local teams there are a number of teams from the Bay Area and Southern California that fly or drive to compete.

“My favorite part of being on the team are the trips we take,” senior Jordan Bliss said, a member of the boys varsity golf team.

The team has traveled to places such as Palm Springs, Bay Area and Carmel to compete in tournaments.

“I remember when I was a freshman Gazette photo /TIM HEALY and I would go on some of the varsity The Granite Bay High School boys varsity golf team poses for a photo after trips. It was a super fun environment with placing 20th at the California Invitational in Indio, California. everyone joking around,” said Holland.

These tournaments are structured “I think that the guys that are stepping “For me, personally I do better when I slightly different than matches. have a lot of things on my plate and I tend up this year wanted too. I’ve got three “In tournaments they make sure that you to use my time more wisely,” said Holstrong seniors right now that are eager are not playing with anyone from your to keep the tradition being on of the best land, “I tend to do my work faster, more team,” said Holland. efficiently and not waste time when I have programs in the region alive,” said Healy.

Tournaments usually kick off earlier in Healy has high expectations for the a smaller window to do it…” the dayaround nine or ten in the morning. team this season.

At the end of last year the team suffered Being a part of the varsity golf team “If the guys focus on stuff that they can a drastic loss as five varsity senior players also means missing large amounts of control and really start aggressively going graduated. While it seems that this would school. after the areas where you can actually have lasting effects on the team, both This is where strong time management approve your scores, which is your short Coach Healy and several varsity players game, they will be the best team in the skills are very beneficial in keeping up say that they will be stronger than ever area,” said Healy. this year. with classes and responsibilities.

on being a freshman on varsity

cer team her freshman year.

“Playing on the same team with my sister was a lot of fun because it was the first time we got the Special to the Gazette /CARA LADRECH opportunity to play toJenna Ladrech, right, and gether,” said Ladrech, sister Sydney pose together “we made a good team on varisty soccer picture day together in the center midfield!”

Many of the freshman who had this rare experience say they are very grateful for it.

“Any chance anyone gets to play up I would definitely take it,” said Teague “I’m glad my coaches talked me into playing up because nothing helps improve an athlete like playing at the next level.”

Continued from page C1 seniors who messed with me constantly, in a playful manner,” Teague said.

There can be up to a four year age difference which can cause some difficulty in getting along with fellow teammates, but many of these stellar athletes say their teammates only helped them grow and improve.

“It was super fun playing with older kids because they were a bunch of fun kids who I looked up to,” said Teague, “[playing varsity] was very beneficial in the long run.”

Another fun aspect of making varsity as a freshman is having the ability to play with an older sibling.

“I was very excited when I found out I had made varsity because [...] I would get to play with my brother,” Davito said.

Junior Jenna Ladrech also had the ability to play with her older sister, Sydney, when she made the varsity soc-

Junior excels in track and field

Nick Beardslee Granite Bay athlete enjoys multiple events in Track & Field and has years of training and experience.

BY BELLA HAMILTON

bhamilton.gazette@gmail.com

Nick Beardslee is a junior at Granite Bay and is on the track and field team.

Beardslee has been a very active member in the school sports community since fifth grade.

Track has been the one sport that he has kept competing in and training for for all these years.

He competes in every event, but he prefers shot put, long jump and pole vaulting. Beardslee has been playing for 7 years.

During his freshman year Beardslee was a decathlete– he competed in all ten events in the track and field competitions.

He chose track because of its helpfulness in other areas of his life, including keeping him in shape and helping him meet new athletes and make new connections with his teammates.

Over the years he has been involved in a wide assortment of sports, including boxing, soccer, basketball and wrestling, giving him a good knowledge of competition and has helped him compete today.

Grizz Quiz Compiled by Dylan Rowe

What do you like to do in the spring time?

“I love being able to compete. Its beneficial for my training,” Beardslee said.

Beardslee is on the varsity track team.

Beardslee is very enthusiastic about track and plans to continue through college in Australia and representing the USA overseas.

“Its a social sport,” Beardslee said, “you get to talk to everybody and make relationships with the people on your team.”

Jarad Harper Track and Field

Kendyl Kring Mountain Biking

GBHS girls’ soccer team has a triumphant season Varsity squad travels far in the state tournament long,” said Broers, “it was the best I have seen from a GB Soccer group in 10 years.”

This year the varsity girls soccer The girls found ways to have fun team had an incredible season. while still competing.

They not only won league and “We all worked together by came in second place in the divicommunicating and lifting each sion one CIF Sac-Joaquin Section other up with positive team talk,” tournament, but made it to the said senior Danielle Sims. “I think semifinals in the division one Nor- what made this team special was cal Regional Tournament. how well everyone got along “The girls managed to win the and just the chemistry we all had SFL league with a record of 10together.”

1-1,” Varsity coach Mark BroHolt said that there were no ers said, “They negative comadvanced to the ments made playoffs and toward each other, reached the CIF It was the best I’ve the girls worked Division 1 Section hard to help push seen from a GB Finals [losing to one another in a Davis 1-0].” positive way.

Soccer group in They then “There was ten years. “qualified for the always high NorCal Regional intensity and Playoffs which encouragement,” – Mark Broers, is essentially the Holt said.

Varsity Coach state tournament This year, the for Northern CA,” team mostly conBroers said. sisted of upperThe chemclassmen which istry of the players was said to helped with their chemistry. help them greatly throughout the “We also had an older group of season. players for a change dominated by “The chemistry on this team juniors and seniors,” said Broers made playing really exciting and “They had been together for 2, 3, fun instead of just hard work,” or 4 years.” said sophomore Summer Holt.

There were only five sopho“Our senior class was a huge part mores on the team, the rest were in making our chemistry so good juniors and seniors. because they made every girl feel Another differing factor was that valuable whether or not they were the varsity squad traveled farther upperclassmen.” distances to help them improve Broers also said that he recogagainst harder appointments. nized the chemistry of this year’s “We spent time on the road travsquad. eling long distances this preseason “They were very unselfish and playing unknown difficult opposupportive of each other all season nents,” said Broers, “it required

BY ABBIE GOULD

agould2.gazette@gmail.com

Devon Nelson Baseball

Ashley Paolucci Stunt

Summer Holt Sophomore helped lead her team to the semi-finals with two saves in penalty kicks. eating and lodging together in small groups and as an entire team.”

The team traveled far this year.

“My favorite moment of this year was our team trip to Livermore at the beginning of the [season] because staying the night in a hotel with my team was really fun,” Sims said.

The coaching staff says they are proud of how this year’s team represented themselves.

“The season was so much fun because the girls on the team were terrific to each other and completely bought in to what the coaching staff was doing this season,” said Broers.

Looking forward to the next season, Broers says he hopes for a similar outcome.

“My hope is that all the players from this past season will return next season with the same positive attitude,” said Broers, “whether we win, lose or tie games always matters to us but it is not the most important goal of our season.”

Jon Feuerstraeter Wrestling

Going for drives

Going on hikes

Chilling with the boys

Going to the lake

Going on vacations

What’s your favorite spring spoirt?

Track

Snowboarding

Baseball

Dive

Swim

Do you prefer Spring or Fall?

Spring

Winter

Spring

Spring

Fall

What is your favorite Spring Break memory?

Going RV-ing

My Australian trip

Going to Six Flags

My New York trip

Chasing a cow

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Do you have a job?

Friday, April 13, 2018

C4

w The Granite Bay Gazette

SECOND LOOK

Varsity boys’ golf gains new talent

BY JAKE CRISCIONE

jcriscione.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay’s Boys’ Golf team is off to a hot start as they are undefeated in league. The team is in the process of rebuilding after the loss of five seniors last year.

To make up for the departures, this year’s eight man varsity roster consists of two freshmen: Dylan McDermott and Derrick Dollesin. Both have proven Spring Sports their talent to the program and are looking forward to Update the many years ahead.

As for this season, the team recently dominated in their first SFL tournament on Apr. 9 and are looking forward to making a surge in the postseason.

April 19 - GBHS @ Oak Ridge April 24 - GBHS vs Nevada Union April 26 - GBHS @ Woodcreek May 1 - GBHS @ SFL #2 May 5 - Playoffs begin Baseball The Varsity Boys’ Baseball Team is off to a slower start than last year, but the team is coming together and winning as they head into league games. Their persiting goals are to win league and add yet another section championship to the team’s history.

April 17 - GBHS vs Folsom April 19 - GBHS vs Folsom April 20 - GBHS vs Folsom April 21 - GBHS vs Campolindo April 28 - GBHS vs McClatchy

special to the gazette /ANDREW ORETTA

special to the gazette /ANDREW ORETTA-

Softball Heading into the heart of their season, the GBHS Softball Team has seen significant improvement from last year and are currently undefeated.

The team experienced a major turnout in the tryout process and has undoubtedly seen success in the regular season thus far.

April 18 - GBHS @ Woodcreek April 20 - GBHS vs Rocklin April 25 - GBHS vs Del Oro April 27 - GBHS @ Folsom April 30 - GBHS @ Nevada Union Girls’ Lacrosse The girls’ lacrosse team is younger than ever this year and lack the experience that comes with returning varsity players. Nonetheless, the team is finding early success and are building as a young team for future years.

April 17 - GBHS vs Christian Brothers April 24 - GBHS vs Oak Ridge April 27 - GBHS @ Davis Boys’ Lacrosse This year, Granite Bay Boys’ Lacrosse is currently one of the best teams in the North Coast Div. I Section. The team has an overall record of 8-2 including an impressive win over Monte Vista - a team who has caused Granite Bay trouble in the past.

With the early season success, the team is currently ranked tenth in the state. They are hoping for a deep playoff push after to an abrupt playoff finish last year.

April 17 - GBHS @ Christian Brothers April 19 - GBHS @ Lincoln April 21 - GBHS vs Marin Catholic April 24 - GBHS @ Oak Ridge April 27 - GBHS vs Davis

Special to the Gazette /ANDREW ORRETTA

Track & Field Granite Bay’s Track & Field Team has patiently awaited their first SFL Meet after multiple delays/ cancellations. Regardless, the team is ready after months of training and various Invitationals.

A recent stand out performance would be the Varsity Girls’ 4x100 relay team (Jada Harper, Abbie Monk, Alex Box and Janelle Cruz) who set a new school record at the Arcadia Invitational on the weekend of Apr. 7.

On top of the girls’ success, the Varsity Boys’ 4x400 relay team (Jason Dell’Orto, Ricky Frank, Jarad Harper and Jaylen Latson) ran a season best time at the Arcadia Invitational.

April 18 - GBHS @ SFL #3 April 28 - GBHS @ Sac Meet of Champions May 2 - GBHS @ SFL #4 Swim The Grizzly Swim Team is continuing its remarkable triumph in not just league but the entire state.

Both Boys’ and Girls’ swim are anticipating domination in SFL as well as the Sac-Joaquin Section.

April 20 - GBHS vs Oak Ridge & Rocklin April 27 - GBHS @ SFL Champs Prelim April 28 - GBHS @ SFL Champs Finals

special to the gazette /PAVLINA CLEM

Boys’ Tennis

The 2018 Boys’ Tennis Team has continued its success from last year with the return of many experienced and talented players.

Most notably, a new coach (Linda Dickson) hasn’t resulted in any hiccups from the success of the reigning section champs.

April 17 - GBHS @ Folsom April 18 - GBHS vs Woodcreek Boys’ Volleyball

The Boys’ Volleyball team has started their 2018 season extremely strong with a current record of 15-8. Their 5-2 league record places them at 3rd place in SFL. April 16 - GBHS @ Folsom April 19 - GBHS @ Jesuit April 21 - GBHS @ Granite Bay Brian Nolan Varsity Tournament April 23 - GBHS @ Oak Ridge April 25 - GBHS vs Nevada Union *All records and standings as of Apr. 10.

Special to the Gazette /DAVID GONI

GS The Gazette’s arts and entertainment guide.

April 2018

GREENSCREEN Learn how to do your part for our planet

PAGES 10 & 11 Gazette Photo/ LOGAN EMBREE

Page 2

April 2018

sneak peek.

Gazette Illustration/ JACK KEHOE

Gazette photo/ LOGAN EMBREE

wSee page 7 April Fools 2018

wSee pages 10 and 11 Earth Day

Toys R’ Us is out of BusinUs

O

wSee page 13 YouTube Stars

Online shopping has become a growing phenomenon

nline shopping is more prevalent Somehow, the feeling just isn’t the same than ever. It is the phenomenon that when shopping online. There is no colorful, makes shopping quicker and easier joyful atmosphere geared specifically to please than before. children. Instead, shopping is made to be so Just about every store now has an online boring. site. In fact, stores need an online site to Through the years, my love for shopping in be competitive in sales. And don’t get me person has never gone away. I still enjoy going wrong; online shopping does have its bento the mall with my friends on the weekends. I efits. I find myself online shopping all the love making a day-trip out of shopping in the time.

Bay Area.

But now, people are online shopping for Shopping is something I constantly want to everything. Nowadays, even grocery shopdo for fun. It is a part of my life and a part of ping can be done online. It’s getting to the American culture. point where online stores are kicking out the Yet the shopping-in-person experience could real, tangible stores. easily could be taken away from me and the ayung2.gazette@gmail.com Sites such as the ever-growing Amazon future generation. are forcing stores nationwide to go out of One day, all our shopping could be done business. People simply aren’t going in store to purchase things online. People will be holed up inside their house and never get a anymore. breath of fresh air. And why would they if everything is delivered This reality made me consider right to their very own doorstep? the direction our country is going My children might never know towards a digital era. what it’s like to walk around a toy Toys R’ Us recently filed for store and look gleefully at the rows “When I first heard the news, I was and rows of endless toys. They bankruptcy, and its stores are closing down all over the country. heartbroken. As a little girl, I would might never try on their clothing When I first heard the news, I was before deciding to purchase it. heartbroken. As a little girl, I would roam the many aisles of Toy R’ Us.” Rather, they will only judge things roam the many aisles of Toys R’ Us based on the digital image porand just look with satisfaction at trayed on an electronic screen.

I think that the closing of stores the rows and rows of Barbie Dolls such as Toys R’ Us is just the first or American Girl Dolls. step towards a completely digital age, and to be honest, I’m not It didn’t necessarily matter that I bought anything. Sometimes it liking it. was just fun looking at all of the toys. *** For this reason, Toys R’ Us was one of my favorite stores growAshley, a sophomore, is a Gazette Greenscreen editor. ing up, and it is a place filled with some of my favorite childhood memories.

COMME NTARY

ashley yung

Page 3

Guide to Green Screen

Spring Musicals

Page 4

Food Reviews Page 5

House Ad Page 6 Music Reviews Page 7 April 1st Pranks

Gazette Illustration/ JACK KEHOE

Upcoming GBHS Events for April and May April 16-27 Senior Ball Tickets on sale April 28 Track Championship Meet April 30-May 4 Staff Appreciation Week Page 17

Page 8 4/20

Page 13 YouTube Stars

Page 9 Top Tweets

Page 14 Movie Reviews

Pages 10&11 Earth Day

Page 15 Friday the 13th

Page 19

Page 12 Chinny&Wandy

Page 16

Page 20

Media Class

Music and Personality Types Page 18

Follow Friday Fortnite

Local Concerts

star struck.

April 2018

Page 3

Spring Musical GBHS drama students tell the story of Jesus Christ

Special to the Gazette / GBHS Drama Department

BY ASHLEY LUCIA

alucia.gazette@gmail.com

U

pon entering the musical theatre class, you are hit with a definitive energy as students prepare for the rock opera musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

Kyle Holmes, the director and drama teacher, is confident the cast has the skill set to produce a successful showing.

“This year we definitely have the right people (in our cast),” Holmes said.

Natalie Collins, a junior at G ­ BHS, believes this show’s larger cast will create a stronger presence than previous musicals. “(A larger cast) makes the stage look full,” Collins said. “We have a

very powerful voice as a group.”

With no dialogue in the show, this particular cast will be tasked with the challenge of being entirely reliant on their vocals.

However, Collins believes their cast is ready for this challenge.

These students have not only prepared vocally, but they have also learned choreography. “(Our cast) had (the) amazing opportunity to work with a choreographer from New York City,” Holmes said.

The cast learned the choreography for the entire show in ten days.

The dancing in the show is meant to add to the overall dynamic.

“The dance numbers are my favorite part of the musical,” GBHS

sophomore, Morgan Peterson said. “They bring an upbeat and energetic feel to the show (that) grab your attention.”

To create the successful performance any cast desires, a strong work ethic is required.

Fortunately for the musical theatre class, they received the help of the advanced drama class to build the show from scratch.

Kyla Miyashiro, a junior at GBHS, says that her advanced drama class helps with all things ranging from lighting to costume design.

“During shows, (advanced drama) makes sure everything is running smoothly,” Miyashiro said.

Miyashiro has had the opportunity to be apart of the set design team.

I think (our set design team) wanted scaffolding (for) versatility,” Miyashiro said. “The cast (can) use the set pieces in many different ways,” Miyashiro said.

Beyond the entertainment aspect of this rock opera musical, there is also a message to be conveyed.

“This is such an important part of (many people’s) lives,” Holmes said. “So (we want to be) respectful of that in the telling of the story.”

Within the large group of students, there is a diverse community of beliefs among the cast.

“Our cast is made

up of everything from people who this has been a part of their life since they were children to people who didn’t know who Judas Iscariot... before (walking in),” Holmes said.

All members of the Granite Bay community can come and see the show, regardless of personal beliefs or faith.

“I think that it’s a meaningful story whether (or not) you come from a Christian background,” Holmes said.

With this show, the cast hopes audience members leave with newfound insight.

“Our job is to create art and put it out into the world... however people respond to it,” Holmes said. “I think that storytelling is about lighting a match (and) starting the spark in conversation.”

Holmes hopes to do just that in the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

The Granite Bay community can see the two hour production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” on April 19-21 and April 26-28 at 7 p.m. Student tickets will be $10 and adult tickets will be $12.

“I hope people leave and are inspired to have discussion about how we tell stories, how we remember people, and where storytelling and faith intersect,” Holmes said.

Gazette illustration /ASHLEY YUNG

Page 4

The apple of your (rib) eye Hog Wild

BY ELLIOTT HYMAN

H

ehyman.gazette@gmail.com

og Wild Barbecue of Placerville is one of the preeminent barbecue joints in the Sacramento area.

Their food is so good that whenever meat loving family members come into town, my dad and I demand that we make the 45 minute drive.

Hog Wild is a hole-in-the-wall on the outskirts of downtown Placerville. Its unassuming exterior might scare off some patrons who are expecting a fancier place.

In reality, its humble feeling is one of its best features as it has a comfortable and homey vibe.

The employees are extremely friendly and always willing to have a conversation.

Upon walking in, you can already tell it is going to be a fantastic meal by the pleasant aroma of slow cooked meats.

At Hog Wild, you can sit back and unbutton your belt (you’ll probably have to) without fear of receiving a judgemental glare.

Now that all that stuff is aside, let’s get down to brass tax. The barbecue is absolutely killer and has blown out every other place in the Sacramento area for me.

Unfortunately, the food is so good that I have a hard time going anywhere else for barbecue now. This puts me in a bit of a predicament because it ends up being a costly endeavor to drive and eat there.

Personally, I go for the two or three meat plate because I can’t decide between the ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. For those who can only handle one entree, go

The Gazette staff shares their favorite BBQ places that everybun will love!

Lucille’s Smokehouse for the ribs – they are incredible.

Hog Wild has a sweeter barbecue sauce that I thoroughly enjoy. Give a healthy portion of it to maximize the quality of the brisket and pulled pork.

Along with their stellar meat selection, Hog Wild employs a pretty awesome collection of sides. The green beans, mashed potatoes, and corn bread are some of my personal favorites.

If your family can eat like mine, then it may be a wise decision to go for a family style meal. These come with 3 meats and 3 sides and come in varying sizes (I’ve gone through one with only 3 people).

Hog Wild stands head and shoulders above local competitors in comparison to traditional Southern barbecue powerhouses. Only one Texas barbecue place I’ve eaten at has surpassed Hog Wild in an holistic comparison.

Run by a native Texan, Hog Wild provides a Texas flair in northern California and is a must-go for any barbecue lover.

HOGWILDBAR-B-QUE.COM

Hog Wild provides a wide variety of traditional barbeque entrees

KoJa Kitchen

BY KEYURI PILLAY

T

April 2018

what’s grillin’?

kpillay.gazette@gmail.com

he memories associated with a barbeque whether it be at the beach with a couple of friends or a Fourth of July celebration, are always joyous occasions involving fun and great food.

To bring some of that joy back, my top pick will definitely be KoJa Kitchen, a korean and japanese restaurant that serves barbeque with an asian twist. This spicy and sweet take on traditional barbecue is sure to bring excitement and flavor in every bite.

Located off of Rocklin Road in Rocklin, KoJa Kitchen is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m to 9 p.m.

KoJa Kitchen specializes in the blending of traditional japanese and korean flavors to reinvent them into something simply mouthwatering and will leave you craving more.

Offering various types of meats and even a vegetarian option Koja Kitchen is bound to satisfy anyone.

BY SPENCER COVA

S

scova.gazette@gmail.com

outhern barbeque; something that California has never been able to get right, and quite frankly – still

can’t.

I have had Lucille’s, located in the Blue Oaks shopping center, bookmarked for years. So I was excited to finally be able to try it out.

Lucille’s does a great job of replicating southern culture. The use of Blues playing in the background, overcrowding voodoo decor and a hint of cajun vibe had me convinced that Jeff Sessions himself would show up during my meal.

Upon being seated, we were greeted by our server who offered some comfort foods. We were given complimentary biscuits with sweet apple butter — I had no knowledge of apple biscuits before my visit, but I left knowing I have lived a better life by being introduced to them.

Five stars to the biscuits alone.

My server, who had a soft Texan draw, was apt to checking in with my table often and never let my mason jar full of sweetened iced tea run empty.

For my entree, I decided on one of “Lucille’s favorite” items and ordered a half rack of barbeque ribs with a side of macaroni and cheese.

Here is where the disappointment occurs; the food took well over 30 minutes to arrive as the waiter dropped two plates of food while walking out of the kitchen.

The server apologized and we understood it as a forgivable offense, but what was not forgivable was the quality of the entree.

There are so many options to choose from such as KoJa bowls, tacos, salads and side dishes as well.

I ordered the the beef koja with a side of kamikaze fries and a signature strawberry mango mint lemonade.

The flavors infused in the meat exploded in my mouth, the sweet and spicy flavors complimented each other wonderfully. From that initial bite I knew that this meal was money well spent. The beef koja came with salad and a rice bun, the salad did not have any dressing on it so it was a bit hard to eat by itself because there was hardly and taste but the plain greens.

The rice that came with my order was neatly placed on the plate with seasoning on top, it was sticky and was good to eat with the meat and salad together because it held the food together nicely. Sipping on the strawberry mint mango lemonade after eating my mean was extremely refreshing and pleasant.

Altogether my experience at KoJa Kitchen was extremely enjoyable, the staff was very friendly and attentive to their customers. Also, the atmosphere at the restaurant was very relaxing and welcoming.

Maybe I set my standards too high judging from the decor and culture, but the food was very underwhelming.

The presentation of the meal was bland and lacked creativity, and the meat itself failed to impress me. The food was not bad, though it lacked flavor.

The portion sizes were less than expected coming from a southern-style eatery and although the ribs were smoked, they tasted over-cooked.

The only reason I will be going back to Lucille’s in the near future is for their heavenly biscuits. Beyond that, it is an underwhelming establishment.

Gazette photo /SPENCER COVA

Lucille’s Smokehouse, located in Rocklin, serves conventional southern comfort food favorites.

The location of KoJa Kitchen is also perfect in its own way because it is very close to Sierra College and serves as an excellent spot for students to stop for lunch.

Gazette photo /KEYURI PILLAY

KoJa Kitchen provides a Korean twist on barbeque, filled with flavor.

April 2018

slytherin to room 514.

Page 5

Siriusly, read the gazette.

Or there’s something ron with you.

Special to the Gazette /SHREYA KHADKA

Page 6

April 2018

tune in.

The Decemberists I’ll Be Your Girl

BY JACK KEHOE

jkehoe.gazette@gmail.com

I

n The Decemberists’ eighth album “I’ll be your girl,” their old style of music and completely embed themselves in the modern music era we live in today.

The band worked with various artists in order to ‘modernize’ their music, and they’ve done an amazing job recreating their feeling they give off while still having their past works included.

“I’ll Be Your Girl” give off great songs, and almost plays out like a story in a series of songs from start to finish in the album.

Most of the songs, being under five minutes, are a short addition to the growing story of sorts.

With their move to the modern music, The

Decemberists give off a vibrant and colorful pop to the already great music they made beforehand.

While their move to modern music had tons of risks that came with it, judging by the outcome, it certainly has paid off. Fans love the new songs as well as the old songs thrown in as well.

Each song in “I’ll Be Your Girl” does give off a different vibe, though, while still connecting a story together. “Your Ghost” gives off a gothic beat, and attracts people from that crowd while another song like “We All Die Young” attracts a different group. There’s something for everyone in this album.

Different groups of people to your album is a hard thing to master, but The Decemberists have done it again and again. People love the concept of a whole album being

able to tell a story, and it adds to the depth of the songs overall.

It’s shown, too. The album has brought back veteran fans and holds a bright light to the future for the band. What they did really brought back the crowd.

Another song featured, “Starcatcher,” happens to be a throwback to the old Decemberist beats that fans loved, and it is heartwarming to see them not totally ditch their past selves by including this piece.

In reality, this album is the ultimate mixture of songs tossed in, but they somehow produce this story that is loved.

Fans got a treat with “I’ll Be Your Girl,” and hopefully they will be given even more excellent songs from The Decemberists.

Genius

 I’ll Be Your Girl was released on March 16, 2018.

B+

Skip to: “Your Ghost”

Tory Lanez Memories Don’t Die Tory Lanez Tony Lanez Memories Don’t Dieis infamous for a certain degree

BY STEPH KANG of bravado (a pointed reference at his … feud skang.gazette@gmail.com

T Genius

 Memories Don’t Die was released on March 2, 2018.

C+

Skip to: “Pieces”

he entire time I was listening to “Memories Don’t Die,” I wanted to be somewhere else. Doing anything else.

Listening to anything else.

While trying to listen to the album, I found myself drifting towards my phone to finish reading my book or clicking onto another open tab to look up cat memes.

Which is frustrating. I’m a Lanez fan, but even I can’t turn away from the fact that maybe his intense publishing schedule is taking a toll on his artistry. After all, this album was released just last month, and his previous two were released just the month prior. What set of standards is he using to vet his albums at this production rate? How can he proclaim to want to be remembered when it doesn’t even seem like he even cares about the very things he wants to be remembered for?

with Drake). Yet in this album, this veneer stretches too thin to quite pull off. In certain songs, one can see quite clearly underlying issues not compatible with this conception – friendships rotting away of jealousy; his success, which he holds before him so proudly, alternately being depicted as something to be ashamed of something people take advantage of him for – spliced between flimsy affirmations of the meaning and splendor of his life and brief, masturbatory mentions of potential philanthropic ventures to circle back to his money.

In short, it’s evident that Lanez hasn’t done a lot of intentional or coherent thinking about his situation, even as he parades it for the entire world to see. Even in the structure of his lyrics at a glance, one can tell the disorganization involved in the creative process, oftentimes lacking easily recognizable choruses or actually looking like Lanez just pasted in

another entirely different song.

In the end, what remains is not the incredibly innovative artist that took my breath away with his remixes of popular songs. In the end, his own drive for success works against him, all his songs attempting to be commercial enough to maintain that image of success he’s worked so hard to maintain and eventually obtain, yet ultimately lacking the substance needed to stick the landing. What is he trying to sell if even the attitude he’s been trying to push forward isn’t convincing?

What seems more genuine, however, is the hurt underneath the surface. He shouldn’t have glanced over the clear pain the felt in response to his personal life in favor of focusing on popularly adulated elements of success that have taken him thus far. Lanez has made it clear that he’s got everything he’s been looking for in that regard.

In “Memories Don’t Die,” nothing. In Lanez’s world, everything is as it appears on the reusable tin, except when it isn’t.

George Ezra Staying at Tamara’s

BY MACKENZIE BROWN mbrown.gazette@gmail.com

G

eorge Ezra shot to alternative/soft rock stardom with his release of “Budapest” off of the album “Wanted on Voyage” which was released in 2014.

After laying low for a few years, Ezra has returned with a brand new album titled “Staying at Tamara’s” hinting to the name of an airbnb he stayed in Spain while writing songs.

Ezra continues to impress, staying mostly consistent to the sound that he released several years back, a mix of his mature voice, quiet instrumentals, and telling lyrics, the song “All My Love” most mimicking his original sound.

The album opens with “Pretty Shining People,” an anthem calling for society to love one another and how that causes for us all to be better together.

Besides liking the message that is being enforced, this was a fitting way to open the album, reminding listeners of why they loved Ezra so much in the first place.

My favorite track on the album is “Shotgun” because of its upbeat and cheery mood that makes me think of summer. This tune is the perfect happy acoustic one should listen to on a warm day. With the use of extra instrumentals unique to his typical choices and his full voice layered with other background singers, you can’t help but nod your head to the beat.

Following suit of a sunny sound reminiscent

of summer, “Paradise” is a bit more jubilant and upbeat. Ezra provides a perfect track for a dance party on a balmy night. Full with quick tempo and echoing background singers, this track is the most “fun” on the album, prompting for some dancing or singing along.

For anyone looking for a road-trip playlist, Ezra has done all of the hard-work of compiling songs for you with the release of “Staying at Tamara’s” – the ideal balance between soft and cheery sounds for a long drive.

I love this album because Ezra continued to trust the process – creating songs while traveling – that helped him originally get his start, leading to the creation of another thoughtfully made, meaningful album with raw emotion.

iTunes

 Staying at Tamara’s was released on March 23, 2018.

B+

Skip to: “Shotgun”

April 2018

Page 7

don’t end up a fool.

April 1st — watch out!

Students and staff share their past experiences with pranks

BY KENNEDY HEALY

khealy.gazette@gmail.com

A

pril 1st — it’s the one day of the year where practical jokes and dismay can be blamed simply on the date.

A lot of people in the Granite Bay community find themselves as either the one employing these japes, or being the victim of one.

Kathleen Angelone, a social science teacher at Granite Bay High School, is a huge fan of April Fool’s day, and is one of the jokesters who pulls the lighthearted pranks on people she cares about.

“It’s a fun holiday, for the person doing the tricking,” said Angelone.“I love April Fool’s Day and I always get my husband. I find it’s best to ‘get him’ in the morning when he’s still groggy and doesn’t know what day it is.”

There are also other people who find themselves as the ones being hoaxed.

Senior Kyle Sisco enlightens on the perks of being a pranker rather than suffering through the pranks.

“Although I typically am the one getting fooled on April Fool’s Day, it is way more fun to be the pranker, because you get to laugh at your friends,” Sisco said.

Allyse Zimmerman, another senior at

GBHS, agrees that it’s never fun being the butt of the joke.

“My mom likes to prank me, and it makes me feel really annoyed,” said Zimmerman.

What are these pranks that people employ onto their loved ones you may ask?

Trinity Burley, an early-graduated senior of GBHS, has her birthday on April Fools day, and has attempted many pranks in her day.

“In 5th grade I put fake dog poop in my classroom thinking that my teacher would just laugh about, but no! I got in trouble and got benched for all of recess that day,” said Burley. “When I tried to tell him it was my birthday, he said ‘no it’s April Fool’s Day.’” Angelone enjoys getting her husband and her mom during April Fool’s Day with her practical jokes.

“I’ve gotten my husband on things like, telling him he slept too late, and that he was going to be late to work when it was a weekend, that I was pregnant again when we had decided on no more kids, that it was snowing outside when it was a beautiful day, that we hit the lottery jackpot which we only got one number,” said Angelone. “I also got my mom, while in college. I told her on the phone I was moving back in with her for at least a year… there was complete silence on the other end.”

For some people, it may be easier to team

up with people in order to pull antics.

“Last year my daughters got in on it, and put Vaseline on the toilet seat and waited outside the door to hear his reaction which was a loud, ‘what the heck?,” Angelone said.

There are many people who have experienced a diverse amount of pranks thrusted upon them from their friends or family.

“My dad puts salt on my toothbrush every year, and thinks it’s really funny,” Sisco said.

Another person who finds herself as the one being deceived by others in a humorous way is Zimmerman.

“One time a couple years ago, my sister and I were eating the cereal my mom had just prepared for us. She came back into the kitchen, holding her phone and video-taping. She kept laughing and said, ‘do you like your cereal.’”

Zimmerman said. “My mom was trying to make us think she did something weird to our cereal as a prank, but neither of us believed her. She thought it was really funny, and uploaded it to Facebook for some reason.”

April Fool’s Day is a day in which everyone can either prank or be pranked. Which side did you partake in this year?

Gazette Illustration/ JACK KEHOE

April 2018

“high”est priority.

GBHS students share their involvment in a trending social phenomenon

Gazette illustrations /ASHLEY YUNG

BY BELLA HAMILTON

F

bhamilton.gazette@gmail.com

or many people, 4-20 is just another day that promotes drug use. Yet some people in the Granite Bay community believe in celebrating and participating in this infamous day.

“4-20” was the code word high schoolers in California for smoking marijuana. The phrase then was turned into a ‘holiday’ for stoners. “(4-20) represents the history of marijuana (and) how it became popular,” junior Mauricio Acevedo-Ayala said. “(The day) celebrates marijuana and its uses.”

According to the Sacramento Bee, over 35 million people in the United States smoke marijuana on a regular basis. However, on April 20th, about 55 million people smoke.

There is a thriving community of people using marijuana in Granite Bay who plan on celebrating this occasion.

“Every stoner is preaching about 4-20,” a junior boy, who wishes to remain annonymous, said. “It is when all the stoners get together and smoke.”

Even in Granite Bay, marijuana-lovers look forward to celebrating this day.

“It is recommended that people celebrate 4-20 in Granite Bay of course,” the annoymous junior boy said. “We should all celebrate

together.”

Although there are many positive positions on this holiday, some faculty at GBHS are not pro-marijuana.

“I am against smoking anything for fun,” Angela Pozzi, physical education teacher at GBHS said, “Its bad for your health.”

Some people get their cannabis through nearby dispensaries which are accessible to individuals over the age of 21. Others get marijuana through prescriptions from a licensed physician.

“I have a family member that has a (medical marijuana) card.

They like to grow their own marijuana at their house,” junior Wade Bryant said.

When there isn’t any dispensaries, people usually turn to people in the Granite Bay area who either grow marijuana themselves or buy from a local grower.

There are many traditions and festivals celebrating 4-20.

In San Francisco, there is an annual migration of tens of thousands of people who assemble on ‘Hippie Hill’ and celebrate the holiday.

Closer to us, there is a festival here in Sacramento named ‘Cannabis in Wonderland.’ A spin-off on “Alice in Wonderland,” this is a festival that shows how marijuana can be applied to daily life, and it will include many vendors and foods.

Some students at GBHS feel that the ‘holiday’ is not given the recognition it deserves.

“It’s the big chief day [where] everyone smokes,” Acevedo-Ayala said.

Page 8

Page 9

April 2018

current.

Top Tweets Spirited tweets by Granite Bay High School students

BY MILAN FRENCH

mfrench.gazette@gmail.com

Netflix Picks

Twitter

BY NOELANI NICHOLS

nnichols.gazette@gmail.com

Nothing makes you more of a liar than working in retail

1. Portlandia Chock-full of humorous interpretations of notorious social groups and heavy on the jokes about Portland’s quirky, eccentric nature, Portlandia is a shoe-in for laughs. Whether you’re a member of a biker gang, a vegan, an environmentalist, a middle-aged self-proclaimed oenophile, or a mere fan of comedy, the wacky and clever show is sure to poke fun at your situation in the most laughable way.

KT Hunter @katie_huntrr

0 Retweets

14 Likes

nothing tests my self control more than chips and salsa

2. Dark Off the bat, a German TV series may not appear the most appealing Netflix option to an English-speaking viewer, but with subtitles and a bit of cultural adaptation, Dark is a crowd-pleaser for all tongues. Filed under Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime, and Mystery, the eerie thriller encapsulates all its listed genres.

The basis of the TV series is literally and figuratively a journey through time.

The constant and exciting changes in scenery reveals two seemingly polarized worlds to share uncanny similarities.

ken @kennedyhealy39

5 Retweets

25 Likes

hi my name is Will, and i have a gov test tomorroooow!!

3. Bates Motel Bates Motel is a show that requires its viewers to have a gut. To appreciate the theatrical excellence, one must first endure the creepiness. It’s raw, unnerving, keep-you-up-at-night disturbing, intriguing, and hilarious all at once.

The televised horror story contains myriad graphic, stomach-churning details but not without purpose – the underlying message is one of mental health exposure and awareness. Bates Motel serves as the perfect midnight thriller series … unless you’re afraid of the dark.

Will Anderson @officialbilliam

0 Retweets

14 Likes

There’s too much negativity in this world

Trevor Johnson @trevyj_15

1 Retweet

20 Likes

j

Hangout Location of the Month:

“oblivion comics and coffee”

O

What is it?

blivion Comics and Coffee is a fairly new hang out spot for anyone with a geeky side to their personality.

What to Look Out For

•

DC and Marvel Comics they offer such as Wolverine and Batman series

Oblivion takes pride in providing comforting

•

New Pumpkin King latte

coffee and collectable comics for everyone.

•

Little Dragon Green Tea

There is the great advantage of being in the

•

Vegan pastries such as their specialty toasts

heart of downtown Sacramento, allowing for a

•

April 11 is when new Comics come to Oblivion

larger variety of social crowds to interact and

•

April 16 is Game Night

share connections with.

Gazette photo /LAUREN STARGARDTER Gazette Photo /

BY LAUREN STARGARDTER lstargardter.gazette@gmail.com

Pages 10 & 11

party for the earth.

Prolonging our home

The time has come once again to join together and help protect our home for future enjoyment

M

BY LAUREN STARGARDTER lstargardter.gazette@gmail.

other Nature gives to us year round, the least we can do is take a day to give back. We are all aware that April 22 is a special day to reflect on how good Mother Nature is to us.

But contrary to popular belief, there is more to Earth Day than just appreciating trees for a day.

“I think Earth Day needs to be on people’s minds all the time the environment is obviously something that should be focused on in terms of conservation and making conscious choices that will affect us everyday,” said junior Bethany Brooding.

Our valuable natural resources, such as water and trees are not able to replenish themselves as much or as quickly as we would hope or expect them to be.

“A lot of people take natural resources for granted and don’t really cherish them as much as we need to,” said Environmental Club president Manvi Bhapkar.

We have been ignoring the fact

that we are not doing our part to protect our planet as much as we should be. The environmental issues are more dire than we think.

“Conserving the earth is a big part of our lives and it’s not just going to affect them but generations after them as well,” said Bhapkar.

Realistically, we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing to ensure but we have a long way to go and we don’t have as much time as we think we do.

“Environmental issues in places such as the arctic or other pipelines you can look at the Amazon rainfor-

ANALYSIS est and they are cutting it for livestock and I just feel that there is such an array of environmental issues that really could be focused on at a government level its getting tossed aside,” said Bethany.

Earth Day has been perceived as a great way to raise environmental awareness in a more impactful and widespread way.

“We all need to take a moment to pause and appreciate the earth and nature and the fact that human activities have an effect on the earth in ways that we can help the earth and whether it is a big or small difference we can all do our part,” said Fish and Wildlife teacher Scott Braley.

“Earth Day really impacts a lot of people and I feel that people need to cherish the fact that saving the environment is really important, because we truly do need these natural resources,” said Bhapkar.

No matter who we are, everyone can do their part

April 2018

Photography Collage Information Bottom Left: The Milky Way rising over Half Dome as seen from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park.

Bottom Right: The last light of the day cast shadows on a farmyard barn in Livingston Montana.

Right Center: Dusk falls on the valleys underneath Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

Top Right: The Lake Clementine Dam in Auburn California overflows with water.

Directly Right: A gloomy morning at Natural Bridges State park in Santa Cruz California.

and contribute to saving the environment in some way.

“All these small things can make a big difference in the big picture,” said Bhapkar.

“People should always do the part and pick it up and just small things like you should always make sure that you recycle anything that can be recycled like if the bottle your drinking can be recycled,” said Bhapkar.

People can’t constantly rely on legislation to create an eco friendly lifestyle for us, everyone can do their part whether it is activism; “We can all broaden our horizons and stay aware of environmental issues,” said Bethany.

Or hands on action and making an eco friendly lifestyle second nature in the household.

“Even if its something small like recycling a water bottle or recycling paper do your part because every bit counts” said Bhapkar.

“If everyone can come together we can definitely make a big difference,”

Gazette photo /LOGAN EMBREE

April 2018

30 years ago?

Page 12

A taste from last century...

BY BRUCE RUSSELL

T

brussell.gazette@gmail.com

he 1990s are often underappreciated – a decade bridging the gap between our technologically based contemporary society and the frightening agitation of the distant 20th century.

Not only was America at its peak in terms of economic success, culture, and innovation, our country’s movie industry was similarly at a high point.

Hollywood films underwent transformations in subject matter, tone, and visual effects to produce memorable experiences previously believed to be impossible.

Few movies represent those defining changes better than “Fight Club,” directed by David Fincher. This dark, mature observation of those who do not conform to society’s norms is a classic of the 90s.

“Fight Club” stars Edward Norton as a discontented white collar employee.

Bored of his repetitive, nine-to-five life, the character finds the salesman Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), and forms an underground recreational fighting group - the “fight club.”

Fincher’s (and the writers’) accomplishments in crafting such a complicated narrative only suffices by remaining poignant two decades later, which it fortunately does.

Instead of utilizing the film’s explicit violence as a concrete marketing tool to attract an audience interested in unadulterated barbarity, Fincher smartly places it at the forefront of the movie’s critique on modern society.

“Fight Club’s” underlying examination of our culture asks why a group of men would be so outright frustrated with capitalist life that they would willingly harm themselves and others for enjoyment.

The spectacle of fighting is not what draws these dissentient men together. Instead, the unifying force is a sense of belonging, able to unilaterally transcend race, appearance, and social standing.

Infinitely more complex than it may appear on the surface, the film is complete with non-consecutive linking narratives, analysis of the human psyche, and a hypothetical scrutiny of cultural materialism. Spoiling anymore would be an insult to those who haven’t yet seen this classic.

“Fight Club’s” final indoctrination is an evaluation of modern society’s unspoken truths. As the character Tyler Durden says frankly: “We’re the middle children of history; no purpose or place. We’ve all been raised on television to believe that one day we’d all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars, but we won’t.”

BY LOGAN EMBREE

U

lembree.gazette@gmail.com

nlike the 1950s and the 1970s, the 90s did not spawn a specific genre of music. Instead, it was a time in which various artists developed their sound and found themselves as an artist.

It is because of this that we have received so many memorable albums out of the 90s.

One of which is “Californication” from the Red Hot Chili Peppers that is widely considered as one of the Peppers most popular albums. It was also considered a comeback album after their generally disappointing “One Hot Minute” album from 1955.

“Californication” created four hit singles for the Peppers. (“Around the World,” “Otherside,” “Californication” and the Grammy Award–winning “Scar Tissue”).

The album also promoted a new sound and feel leaving you with the belief that the Peppers could do more than just party hard all night and day. This was a bold move because it threatened to alienate all their fans that were dedicated to their previous punk sound.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers appeared to enter the a more niche focus in this album, evolving from their previously more mainstream sounds.

Instead of the drug induced lyrics acknowledging their former listeners, lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis decided to address more meaningful topics.

After his former guitarist and friend John Frusciante nearly died from a heroin drug overdose, Kiedis fixated Californication’s message on the significance of life.

“Scar Tissue,” the first single of the album, discusses the physical and emotional ramifications associated with narcotic use.

“Otherside,” referring to the struggles that drug users continue to suffer after they quit, is a solemn and depressing commentary on rock & rolls’ undisclosed realities.

The song “Californication,” the album’s most recognized song and a significant crowdpleaser at concerts, spans across various genres, including pop culture references like Star Wars and Star Trek.

“Californication” was a defining moment for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, altering their production, lyrical content, and distinguished sound they’re known for today.

Gazette illustration/LOGAN EMBREE

April 2018

Page 13

let’s go viral.

Local YouTubers in Granite Bay Their stories and why they enjoy making videos

Gazette Illustration/ JACK KEHOE

BY DYLAN ROWE

I

drowe.gazette@gmail.com

n this generation there are so many different opportunities that innovative technology has made possible. Young adults are especially impacted by technology because they have been immersed in the online culture for their entire lives.

With the technological advancements that people have access to nowadays, users are able to achieve practically anything they can think of, including creating videos on Youtube.

“Youtube allows me to present what I think is funny and what makes other people laugh,” Granite Bay High School junior and Youtuber Scott Martin or ‘Doubleswee’ said.

Youtube is another outlet for people to freely express themselves without any boundaries.

According to Youtube, the site has 1 billion users that upload and watch videos monthly.

The ‘job’ is appealing to many people because of its versatility, and the freedom to create anything, giving people the opportunity to share what they believe in.

“Making videos makes me happy because

it gives me a voice even though I’m young,” GBHS sophomore and Youtuber Tanya Barot said.

Because of the large popularity of Youtube, creators are easy to find especially amongst teens and young adults. “There are lots of people in Granite Bay that you wouldn’t expect to make videos,” GBHS senior Brian Nguyen said, “but it’s interesting to get a peek into different people’s lives.”

Not only is Youtube an outlet for people to express themselves, it also allows users to explore communities and find people with similar interests. “I’ve met a lot of new people through the Youtube community,” GBHS student and former Youtube creator Connor Williams said, “It’s cool finding people that like the things you like, even if they live across the country.”

Unlike other jobs, Youtube doesn’t have an age that you have to be qualified to join, creating a larger base of younger users. “I started making videos when I was in elementary school,” 17 year old Youtuber Tate Lovett said. Through Youtube a person of any age can not only become financially successful but can also become internet famous.

“Making money depends on how many

views you get on each video, so I really rely on the content I produce to make the money,” Cosumnes Oaks High School student Salim Sirur said.

This success doesn’t come without work though, “I had to quit making videos because of how much time filming and editing takes,” GBHS sophomore and former Youtuber Connor Williams said. Williams explained that each video takes about five days to film, edit and perfect before it’s released to the public.

At the rate of how many teens are starting Youtube the amount of adults in the future pursuing it as a full time job will increase.

“I wouldn’t mind taking making videos a bit more seriously when I’m older,” Barot said, “but I wouldn’t rely on it in the long-term.”

For some creators Youtube isn’t about the money, “I make videos because it’s what I love to do not because I want to make a profit,” ‘Double Swee’ said.

“Youtube gives people a place to freely deliberate their thoughts and values while still maintaining an overall arrangement of togetherness,” Lovett said, “something that future society could possibly mirror.”

April 2018

W

he film, “Sherlock Gnomes”, based its main character, Sherlock Gnomes, off of the well-known detective, Sherlock Holmes.

When Gnomeo and Juliet, a pair of garden gnomes, become aware of the mysterious kidnapping of their friend and family gnomes in London, they contact Sherlock Gnomes to help them solve this mystery.

I was a little hesitant to watch the film because it’s mainly for little kids, but to my surprise, it was more enjoyable than I had originally anticipated.

I was drawn to seeing the film after finding out it included a cast of actors such as Johnny Depp and Mary J. Blige.

As expected, the film contained loads of cheesy humor in order to appeal to its targeted audience: small children.

“Sherlock Gnomes” is definitely the perfect movie to take your little siblings to watch. Yet even those who are older may generate a few laughs from the film.

Although I personally found the plot predictable, I can see it keeping young children on edge.

Although each scenario varies, I found the movie to be a little repetitive.

I didn’t find anything special about the film.

Rather, it was a standard fantasy/adventure children’s film.

I would recommend watching this film if you are attending the movie theater with small children.

The film is creative and cute, something that will astound a young child’s imagination.

Although resulting in a predictable outcome, when Juliet, Sherlock Gnomes and Gnomeo find their garden friends, the film’s cheesy charm and creative animation kept me somewhat engaged.

The movie also contained a catchy soundtrack, although that too would be more appealing to smaller children. However, the musical talent was evident.

Although “Sherlock Gnomes” was not for me, I believe it’s a great film to entertain and inspire youngsters.

Rated: PG By: Angelina Kolosey akolosey.gazette@gmail.com

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

hen I heard the movie was coming out just mere weeks ago, the name rung a bell in my mind. I remembered how I read the book, and how I had empathized greatly with the protagonist.

Naturally, when my family asked me what movie I wanted to watch over Spring Break, “A Wrinkle in Time” piqued my interest.

I walked in to the movie theater and tried remembering each character. Unfortunately, Meg, the main character, was the only character I distinctly remembered.

First of all, I was greatly pleased with the choices for the cast.

When I read the book in elementary school, I’d canonized nearly the whole cast to be white.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a dominant representation of African Americans in the cast. It fits today’s society progressing further towards complete equality.

This isn’t to say that the other members of the cast were boring; I found that each and every member acted their part so well that I immediately remembered who they were in the first few seconds of their screen time.

One of my favorite characters in the movie was Mrs. Whatsit, played by Reese Witherspoon. Her charm had me enthralled the entire time.

Due to some drastic differences from movie to book, critics only rate the movie two stars out of five on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. In my opinion, the differences between book and movie, such as with age, did not harm the actual movie itself.

Rather, the movie allowed me to reconnect with the book I had once read and gave me an entirely new perspective that I couldn’t grasp in elementary school.

Overall, the director Ava DuVernay produced an absolutely amazing movie which I’d gladly watch again. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, I highly recommend you watch it.

However, if you’ve read the book, prepare yourself for some serious deviations.

Like how you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, don’t judge the 2018 “A Wrinkle in Time” by the reviews. You will regret it.

Rated: PG By: Kavana Gonur kgonur.gazette@gmail.com

the tomb raider: A-

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

a wrinkle in time: A-

sherlock gnomes: B

T

Page 14

film.

S

WARNER BROS. PICTURE

trong, powerful and independent. These are a few adjective to describe the main character in Tomb Raider.

Laura Croft, a young woman with a blurry life plan, goes to an isolated island in order to find out where her father is.

The Oscar winning Alicia Vikander not only portrays Laura, but becomes her character through the extensive training she went through for the role.

Vikander, according to various interviews, wanted her character to be as realistic as possible.

She trained at the gym everyday and did her own stunts.

I often go to the gym, and learning about Vikander’s preparation for her role was inspiring and empowering.

Also, witnessing Vikander’s genuine portrayal of Laura Croft was incredible, as I have always been interested in acting and the work actors do.

A scene that I was impressed by is when Vikander’s character kills a man who tries to attack her in her sleep. Her expression afterwards shows how shocked and terrible she feels about killing the man, even though he tried to kill her.

One criticism I have about the film is how some action scenes went on for long periods of time without any “normal” breaks.

I liked the character Lu Ren, as he was comedic in the beginning and ended up being Croft’s good friend.

I’m glad Laura didn’t get a love interest because I feel like it would have taken away from the actual storyline.

They did have a cute and funny scene when a local guy who works for his family’s restaurant is too nervous to talk to Croft, but it was only a small element of the film.

Laura’s father, however, was a large part of the film, and his situation created a shocking element to the movie.

I agreed with actor Dominic West’s choices to portray Laura’s father, as he acted loving but also distant, as Laura has been separated from her father for most of her life.

Video game nerd or not, go out and see this movie, as the great acting and commitment exhibited by the actors make the film as great as it is.

Rated: PG-13 By: Samreen Siddiqui ssiddiqui.gazette@gmail.com

Page 15

April 2018

freaky friday.

Friday the 13th

The origins and spooky traditions behind the made-up holiday

BY KEYURI PILLAY

F

kpillay.gazette@gmail.com

riday the 13th is considered to be the unluckiest day of the year and has many superstitions surrounding it.

Thanks to pop culture, Friday the 13th has gained much attention in horror films and ghost stories.

The horror movie “Friday the 13th,” released in 1980 introduced the world to a hockey mask-wearing killer named Jason, and is perhaps the best-known example of the famous superstition in pop culture history. The movie spawned multiple sequels, as well as comic books, novellas, video games, related merchandise and countless terrifying Halloween costumes.

This spooky holiday occurs in April this year and has evoked some fun traditions for students at Granite Bay High School.

Most students don’t have much conviction in the myths that surround the day but do plan on dressing in all black just as a precaution so they don’t have bad luck.

“No, I don’t particularly believe in the myths but I do like to entertain the idea, I think it is fun. And my dad’s name is Jason.” Karlee Read, a GBHS senior said.

Friday the 13th’s spooky origins go back to Capt. William Fowler, a well noted soldier of the late 1800s.

Fowler noticed that the number 13 was woven throughout his life (he went to Public School No. 13 in New York City, for example, and fought in 13 Civil War battles).

The number 13 get its bad reputation from the Christian story of the Last Supper where Judas is the unlucky guest. Also, Friday has also

been considered an unlucky day in Western tradition. E. Cobham Brewer’s 1898 “Dictionary of Phrase and Fable” claims Friday as the day that Jesus was crucified and perhaps the day that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, according to Christian beliefs.

Andrew Giambeluca, a senior at GBHS does not believe in the stories of Friday the 13th but is excited to dress down in all black. He loves the idea of having Friday the 13th to just be a fun day for people who like Halloween and the Friday the 13th movies.

“The movies and stuff are great and it makes me think of Halloween and that’s amazing because it is my favorite holiday. I am excited to wear my Jason shirt (on Friday the 13th)” Giambeluca said.

Many of the students at GBHS do not plan on doing anything with their friends on the 13th but they do think that Friday the 13th adds to American pop culture.

BY LOGAN “I’m going toEMBREE stay at home (on lembree.gazette@gmail.com Friday the 13th). But I think that it is cool and adds to pop culture in America. I’m not sure if I will wear black, it depends on how I feel that day,” Jaiden Ng a senior at GBHS, said.

Maddie Martell, also a senior at GBHS does not have any plans for Friday the 13th nor does she believe in the superstition behind it.

“I should (wear all black) to scare people. Dress all emo and goth like…” Martell said, “It would be fun but I am too lazy and broke to do it.”

Gazette illustrations /MACKENZIE BROWN

April 2018

Page 16

lights, camera, action.

Media Class

Course helps to share the stories of GBHS students and keep them up to date

GBTV Gazette illustrations /MACKENZIE BROWN

I

BY NOELANI NICHOLS

nnichols.gazette@gmail.com

t’s practically common knowledge by now that large-scale media publications influence public opinion.

But what about on a local level?

Does a high school media class have the ability to impact the masses?

Granite Bay High School students certainly seem to think so.

“So I’m making my first movie right now and I’m directing it,” senior and Advanced Media’s current Content Creator Ian Mackey said.

But rewind to a few years back – success is seldom found without a load of hard work done first. “(Back where I lived in Austin, Texas) there were no opportunities for the arts, so coming here is like a land of opportunity,” Mackey said. “You can truly do anything at this campus and in this community that you can’t find elsewhere.”

After two and a half years as GBTV Studio Director, Mackey is now working on a full-length feature film concerning mental health and high school culture.

“My inspiration to start this project really starts at my own mental health problems and the problems I’ve seen my peers struggle with. We all have our own issues and I want to break the stigma (surrounding) mental health disorders,” Mackey said.

While some students are spreading messages through outside creative projects, many are busy at work inside the Advanced Media classroom too.

Junior and GBTV Content Producer Martelle Jackson spends most days coordinating with the other media departments and scheduling and approving the content of the campus-famous weekly bulletins.

“I feel like naturally people really enjoy hearing stories and seeing them come alive.

(Members of Advanced Media) have the opportunity to hit such a deep level with people when we can give them both visual and verbal content to help make the information stick with them on a personal level,” Jackson said. “A really good video can resonate with people and make a strong impact. It’s also really efficient and we’re able to update the news on GBTV quickly so

students on campus because I everyone stays up to date.” love getting the chance to learn Jackson also mentioned how about the background of differGBTV acts as a platform of ent students,” Zabell said. “It’s communication and interaction really special to be able to create among GBHS students influa video that will be shown to encing the ways they perceive everyone so they can see a more school culture. in depth view of their peers Serving as a catalyst for rather than what discussion and they just see on a as a repredaily basis.” sentation of Like Jackson, the school’s I mostly enjoy Zabell said she atmosphere, working on stories views Advanced the weekly Media’s resourcbulletins prove that highlight es as an efficient to impact – in different students and effective mesome way, shape, or form on campus because dium to disperse information to – the lot of its I love (...) learning students in an viewers. exciting way.

Sophomore about people’s “I think our and Producer backgrounds class has a big of the Bulletin impact on our Lindsey Zabell – Lindsey Zabell school in the oversees way that we are the bulletin able to reach so production many students process and and get the information out to makes sure the quality is up to the school. We are one of the par. major sources of communicaZabell says she is especially wary of media’s ability to show- tion at GBHS and we also are able to promote a positive school case diversity. culture within our bulletin,” “I mostly enjoy working on Zabell said. stories that highlight different

With respect to (perceived) accessibility and effort, many students find it easier to watch a lively video than do their own personal (draining) research.

“I think what makes media different than other information platforms at our school is that it’s a lot easier for students to watch a video rather than search to find information they need,” Zabell said. “It’s a lot more effective to have students all just watch the bulletin together in one class rather than expect them to find the same information elsewhere, whether it be from our school’s social media accounts or posters around the school.”

While each Media student’s story differs from the next, there seems to be a trend that most come out of the program having gained some new useful knowledge and, perhaps, the discovery of a newfound hobby.

“My experience within the media program has been very fluid. At many times it was good and others it was bad,” Mackey said. “There’s a lot of reasons to blame about that, but, at the end of the day, the class helped me discover my passion.”

is music the key?

April 2018

Page 17

Music Personality Types

Gazette illustrations /ASHLEY YUNG

GBHS students evaluate the effect of listening to music while studying

BY JACK KEHOE

W

jkehoe.gazette@gmail.com

hen it comes to music in the school environment, everyone has their own thoughts on whether or not listening to tunes while working on assignments is helpful or a hindrance.

To many students, listening to music helps them pass the time as well as help them produce better work.

However, a world of temptation and distraction comes with that power, and for some it does get the best of them.

Many studies have been done on this topic. One major study found that listening to music helps

extroverted people focus, while it inversely sets introverted people back.

The results should not be surprising. Extroverts love being around people and being social, so hearing another voice while doing homework can be soothing.

The opposite happens for introverts who are more comfortable without other people or voices present.

“I do listen to music while doing school tasks. I find it a relaxing way to stay awake and focused on the assignments I’m working on,” said Zach Sabbagh, a Granite Bay High School senior.

All teachers have different rules on students listening to music.

There are some teachers who will play music during a class period which helps some students focus more.

However, some teachers are more strict with their music policy.

“I think (some) teachers don’t allow listening to music in class because they see it as a distraction when they’re trying to teach,” Piper Bacon, a freshman at GBHS, said. “(The teacher) sees it as an opportunity for kids to be doing other things on

their phones instead of work.”

Due to the fact that studying and working on homework are two different tasks, music can help differently for each.

The type of music listened to can greatly change how much information students can absorb. Soft and relaxing music tends to help while heavy music would distract rather than aid a person studying for a test.”

“Studies have shown that listening to music before studying or performing a task can be beneficial as it improves attention, memory, and even your ability to do mental math as well as helping lessen depression and anxiety,” college student Elana Goodwin said.

However, the question of whether or not to listen to music while studying varies from person to person.

“I don’t think listening to music while doing other tasks works for everyone. Many people can easily get distracted from the music and become less productive,” Sabbagh said. “(You) really just have to try it out and see if it works for you to know if you should listen to music or not.”

April 2018

Page 18

current.

Mixtape - Sunday Morning Classics

Artist of the Month Tyler Pavik 1) What got you into the art program?

“My dad is really good at art and that inspired me.”

2) What do you like most about being in the art program?

BY DYLAN ROWE

drowe.gazette@gmail.com

1. Sunflower by Rex Orange County A song that will make you feel like you’re running through a sunflower field.

2. Bellyache by Billie Eilish A dreamy song that makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.

3. Good Guy by Frank Ocean A song providing that good guys never win.

4. Politics by Ceepa BBno$ A hype song for when you’re getting ready to go out with friends.

Gazette photo /ASHLEY YUNG

“My favorite part of art is getting to create whatever comes through your head.”

3) Do you want to continue to do art after high school?

“Yeah. I want to do something with 3-D animation and

5. Cool by Zack Villere A song for when you’re dying to truly feel cool.

game design.”

Compiled by Ashley Yung

Follow @ bailey.diemer. He uses this account to post original photos that he has taken during his adventures.

Follow Friday

Instagram

Compiled by Kennedy Healy

FRESHMAN 2021 v s.

VS. SENIOR 2018 What is your favorite fruit?

Connor: “Pineapple” Andrew: “Banana” What is your favorite vacation spot?

Connor: “Florida” Andrew: “Los Angeles”

Gazette photo /EMILY HANSEN

Andrew Jenson, GBHS freshman

Gazette photo /EMILY HANSEN

Connor Halloran, GBHS senior Compiled by Emily Hansen

April 2018

Page 19

fortnite.

A thorough explanation of the cultural phenomenon and its rapidly growing popularity

BY BRUCE RUSSELL

brussell.gazette@gmail.com

I

t has taken over the gaming world, amassing 45 million followers from around the world and earning its status as a cultural icon of this decade.

Fortnite,” a “battle royale” video game, is currently the unparalleled king of entertainment.

Officially titled Fortnite Battle Royale, the game is currently available on Playsta-

tion 4, Xbox One, iOS, PC and macOS. Played in third-person on a huge map resembling an island with 100 roaming players, the game can be played in solo, duo (2 players on a team), or squad (4 players on a team) modes.

Winning can be achieved by being the last man or team standing.

Fortnite mixes various game elements such as scavenging, platforming, shooting, resource gathering and building. The variety of different mechanics ensures that the skill ceiling his high, yet allows new and

unskilled players to easily grasp the basics.

One of the essential concepts of the game – “the Minecraft” -esque building, differentiates it from other similar titles. Basic structures can be built out of wood, stone, and metal found throughout the game world.

Skilled players often build complex forts and bases to gain an edge on opponents.

Social media notoriety has been another reason for the game’s success. Twitch and Youtube, popular streaming and video sharing sites, are huge boosts to the game’s popularity.

Even celebrities have shown their interest. Featured rappers Travis Scott and Drake have streamed the game for fans via Twitch, breaking viewing records with 630,000 simultaneous viewers.

Fortnite’s free-to-play model has been universally well received.

The game’s developer – Epic Games, earns revenue solely through selling “microtransactions,” – cosmetic skins and other virtual items that players can purchase with real money.

Contrary to other games claimed to have “pay to win” mechanics by fans, where spending real money rewards players with a better advantage, Fornite has no such system; everyone has an equal chance, regardless of how much a player has spent.

The game has also been an overwhelming financial success. Earnings are estimated to have already reached $126 million, with the mobile version alone receiving $15 million in its first two weeks.

The smartphone version of the game: Fortnite Mobile, was released on March 15 of this year for only Apple products, allowing players to enjoy the game on the go with touchscreen controls. An Android mobile version is set to be released in the near future.

Epic’s frequent improvements to the game, updated every week, helps in keeping players engaged. New weapons, map changes, skins and other content are constantly being added to reduce repetitiveness and grow the already massive playerbase.

“It’s free and an easy game to pick up and have fun in,” experienced Fortnite player Jackson Greenwald, a junior said. “Even if you don’t win you can still have a lot of fun playing with

Gazette illustration/LOGAN EMBREE

Page 20

April 2018

music to your ears.

LOCAL CONCERT GUIDE BLEACHERS

BY REESE RICHMOND

rrichmond.gazette@gmail.com

Where: Ace of Spades When: May 27th Time: Doors open at 7

B

leachers will be coming to Ace of Spades in Sacramento on May 27th. Singersongwriter Jack Antonoff has taken on Bleachers as his stage name, his music is indie pop with a rock

feel. Inspired by the John Hughes movies of the 80’s/90’s, Bleachers’ music will bring back old-school vibes will also incorporating a fresh, new sound. His debut album “Strange Desire” featured popular songs “I Wanna Get Better” and “Rollercoaster.” Not only does he write his own songs, but he also co-writes many other well-known artist’s songs such as Lorde, Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, and Fun. His lyrics are honest and his beat is easy to dance to, what more could you ask for at a concert?

Gazette Illustrations /MACKENZIE BROWN

KHALID

BISHOP BRIGGS

Where: UC Davis Arc Pavilion When: May 7th Time: Doors open at 7

Where: Ace of Spades

O

n May 7th, Khalid will be coming to UC Davis’ Arc Pavilion.

Khalid is a singer/songwriter from Texas whose R&B, soul music has become increasingly popular in the last two years. He first began his career by posting his music on the app SoundCloud. He first came onto the Hollywood scene with his song “Location.” He then released his debut album, “American Teen,” which consists of an 80’s pop feel while also still being R&B. Since then, he has been featured in a remix of Lorde’s song “Homemade Dynamite” alongside artists Post Malone and SZA. He also sings the song “Love Lies” with Normani for the new movie, “Love Simon.” His voice is not only soulful, but also relaxing. Khalid is a talented upcoming artist and him winning Best New Artist at the 2017 Video Music Awards is proof.

When: May 1st Time: Doors open at 7

O

n May 1st, Bishop Briggs will be performing at The Ace of Spades in Sacramento. Sarah Grace McLaughlin, better known as Bishop Briggs, first started becoming well known in 2015 with her song “Wild Horses” reaching the top 30 on the Billboard Alternative Songs. In 2016 she released her popular song “River.” Bishop Briggs also toured with Coldplay for nine of their tour dates in 2016. With a powerful, soulfilled voice, Bishop Briggs is making a name for herself. She combines rock, pop, and a bluesy sound to create an intense sound. Her first album “Church of Scars” will be released on April 20, 2018. Fans of Adele and Florence and the Machine will find Bishop Briggs a powerful new voice.